Not currently on display at the V&A

Sketcher's Note Book, Series A42

Album
ca. 1951 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Artist's hard-backed sketch book manufactured by George Rowney & Co., called the Sketcher's Note Book, Series A42, with boards covered in a camel-coloured cloth binding, the spine and corners tipped in aubergine cloth and decorated with metal studs. The cover is inscribed in ink by Gilbert Sommerlad 'Let's face it!' and decorated by him with a pen and ink sketch of comedy and tragedy masks. The end-papers and leaves are of cream paper, and has the manufacturer's label. Used by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) to mount his caricatures of performers at the New Theatre Oxford, executed between Christmas 1951 and October 1957. The caricatures, in pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and wash, are on white or cream cartridge paper and are glued to the pages of the book, except for one which is loose, on grey-brown paper. Each sketch or caricature has been titled and dated by the artist and signed by the subject.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSketcher's Note Book, Series A42 (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Boards covered in a camel-coloured cloth binding, the spine and corners tipped in aubergine cloth and decorated with metal studs
Brief description
Album of caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) between December 1951 and October 1957 at the Oxford New Theatre
Physical description
Artist's hard-backed sketch book manufactured by George Rowney & Co., called the Sketcher's Note Book, Series A42, with boards covered in a camel-coloured cloth binding, the spine and corners tipped in aubergine cloth and decorated with metal studs. The cover is inscribed in ink by Gilbert Sommerlad 'Let's face it!' and decorated by him with a pen and ink sketch of comedy and tragedy masks. The end-papers and leaves are of cream paper, and has the manufacturer's label. Used by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) to mount his caricatures of performers at the New Theatre Oxford, executed between Christmas 1951 and October 1957. The caricatures, in pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and wash, are on white or cream cartridge paper and are glued to the pages of the book, except for one which is loose, on grey-brown paper. Each sketch or caricature has been titled and dated by the artist and signed by the subject.
Dimensions
  • Length: 29.2cm
  • Width: 23cm
  • Depth: 3cm
Marks and inscriptions
Let's face it! (Decoration; front cover; pen and ink)
Credit line
Given by Michael Sommerlad
Object history
This album contains caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert J.Sommerlad (1904-1976) between December 1951 and October 1957 at the Oxford New Theatre. Gilbert Sommerlad moved from Brighton to the recently built New Theatre, Oxford, to join his brother Roy (violin and clarinet) as resident pianist in 1936. He continued with his caricatures until his retirement.
Subject depicted
Collection
Accession number
S.132:79-2002

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Record createdDecember 5, 2003
Record URL
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