Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 54

Capital

ca. 1700 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This capital is from a Corinthian pilaster (flat column) that once formed part of the panelling of an interior.

Time
A more purist approach to classicism, known as Palladianism, became the national style for architecture from the 1720s. It was based on the work of the 16th-century Italian architect, Andrea Palladio, and of Inigo Jones, the English architect and designer who had introduced Palladio's style to Britain in the 1620s.

Palladianism used a sophisticated system of proportion, derived from the four different classical styles known as the orders of architecture. The Corinthian was the richest of these four orders.

People
This fragment formed part of the collection of Sir Charles Allom (1865-1947), the founder of White Allom & Co. He was the most fashionable interior decorator in London in the years leading up to the First World War and specialised in the different styles of the 18th century. His clients included Edward VII, for whom he remodelled the ballroom of Buckingham Palace in 1907. The fragment would have served as a model for the various interiors created by White Allom & Co.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Carved walnut
Brief description
Corinthian capital to a pilaster, carved in walnut
Physical description
Corinthian capital to a pilaster, carved with upright foliage and a central rosette at the top
Dimensions
  • Height: 16.4cm
  • Width: 20.4cm
  • Depth: 11.5cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 01/12/1998 by MH
Credit line
Given by Sir Charles and Lady Allom in memory of their son, Lieutenant Cedric Allom RFA
Summary
Object Type
This capital is from a Corinthian pilaster (flat column) that once formed part of the panelling of an interior.

Time
A more purist approach to classicism, known as Palladianism, became the national style for architecture from the 1720s. It was based on the work of the 16th-century Italian architect, Andrea Palladio, and of Inigo Jones, the English architect and designer who had introduced Palladio's style to Britain in the 1620s.

Palladianism used a sophisticated system of proportion, derived from the four different classical styles known as the orders of architecture. The Corinthian was the richest of these four orders.

People
This fragment formed part of the collection of Sir Charles Allom (1865-1947), the founder of White Allom & Co. He was the most fashionable interior decorator in London in the years leading up to the First World War and specialised in the different styles of the 18th century. His clients included Edward VII, for whom he remodelled the ballroom of Buckingham Palace in 1907. The fragment would have served as a model for the various interiors created by White Allom & Co.
Collection
Accession number
W.667-1921

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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