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Allegorical Devices

Design
1795 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Designs for memorials and lockets using human hair. One of eight plates in the 'Allegorical Devices' pattern book. This plate contains twenty-five oval-shaped designs, each numbered 1-25.

1. A monogram on a striped background.
2. An urn, within a diamond shape, on a striped background.
3. A woman pouring libations on an urn, surrounded by a border of flowers.
4. A monogram within a hexagonal shape, with a floral motif background.
5. A chequered pattern of hair within a diamond shape, on a striped background.
6. A woman holding an open book, with a laurel wreath behind it. There is a painter's palette and brushes and the corner of a painting.
7. Beneath a willow tree, a woman weeps into a large swath of fabric as she leans on a funerary monument topped with an urn. In the background, a ship is sinking.
8. An urn within a white oval, on a darker striped background.
9. A man and woman walking beneath trees.
10. In the centre, there is a basket with a pattern of hair above. To the left is a 'P' and on the right is a 'W'. Beneath the basket there is a bird. There is a striped background and a botanical motif border.
11. A woman in classical dress is placing a wreath on the funerary monument. The monument is decorated with two flaming hearts.
12. A monogram surrounded by an interlacing pattern, on a striped background.
13. A seated woman playing a lyre. There is a decorative border with floral motifs and a striped background.
14. The letter 'J' with two interlocking borders, on a striped background.
15. A woman carrying a basket under her arm. There is a decorative border with a delicate floral, possibly lavender, motif.
16. A bouquet of flowers surrounded by a border of alternating stripes.
17. A man and a woman seated on an outdoor bench beneath foliage. In the background, there is a body of water, with a small circular building on the opposite bank.
18. An urn within a diamond shape, on a chequered background.
19. A woman with clasped hands stands next to a funerary monument beneath a willow tree.
20. A shepherdess, with a crook in one hand, gestures to her sheep.
21. An anchor on a striped background.
22. A woman stands under a tree, with a basket next to her.
23. A seated woman points to a caged bird, whose beak reaches to meet her finger. There is a decorative border.
24. A woman with her right hand over her heart.
25. A monogram 'BS' on a striped background, with a botanical border.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Allegorical Devices (popular title)
  • A book of new & allegorical devices, for artists in general, & particularly for jewellers, enamel painters, pattern drawers &c. containing two hundred elegant historical ornamental and fancied subjects (published title)
Materials and techniques
Ink on paper
Brief description
Engraving by Garnet Terry. Plate containing designs from "Allegorical Devices" London, 1795.
Physical description
Designs for memorials and lockets using human hair. One of eight plates in the 'Allegorical Devices' pattern book. This plate contains twenty-five oval-shaped designs, each numbered 1-25.

1. A monogram on a striped background.
2. An urn, within a diamond shape, on a striped background.
3. A woman pouring libations on an urn, surrounded by a border of flowers.
4. A monogram within a hexagonal shape, with a floral motif background.
5. A chequered pattern of hair within a diamond shape, on a striped background.
6. A woman holding an open book, with a laurel wreath behind it. There is a painter's palette and brushes and the corner of a painting.
7. Beneath a willow tree, a woman weeps into a large swath of fabric as she leans on a funerary monument topped with an urn. In the background, a ship is sinking.
8. An urn within a white oval, on a darker striped background.
9. A man and woman walking beneath trees.
10. In the centre, there is a basket with a pattern of hair above. To the left is a 'P' and on the right is a 'W'. Beneath the basket there is a bird. There is a striped background and a botanical motif border.
11. A woman in classical dress is placing a wreath on the funerary monument. The monument is decorated with two flaming hearts.
12. A monogram surrounded by an interlacing pattern, on a striped background.
13. A seated woman playing a lyre. There is a decorative border with floral motifs and a striped background.
14. The letter 'J' with two interlocking borders, on a striped background.
15. A woman carrying a basket under her arm. There is a decorative border with a delicate floral, possibly lavender, motif.
16. A bouquet of flowers surrounded by a border of alternating stripes.
17. A man and a woman seated on an outdoor bench beneath foliage. In the background, there is a body of water, with a small circular building on the opposite bank.
18. An urn within a diamond shape, on a chequered background.
19. A woman with clasped hands stands next to a funerary monument beneath a willow tree.
20. A shepherdess, with a crook in one hand, gestures to her sheep.
21. An anchor on a striped background.
22. A woman stands under a tree, with a basket next to her.
23. A seated woman points to a caged bird, whose beak reaches to meet her finger. There is a decorative border.
24. A woman with her right hand over her heart.
25. A monogram 'BS' on a striped background, with a botanical border.
Dimensions
  • Height: 26cm
  • Width: 20.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • London, Printed for Bowles & Carver, No. 69 St. Paul's Church Yard. (Printed on a curve underneath the designs.)
  • HAIR DEVICES. (Printed bottom centre.)
  • Published 29 Sept. 1795. (Printed bottom right.)
Object history
See also E.2322-1931 for an earlier printing of these designs in 'Hair Devices' ca. 1789.
Production
Price 7s 6d. London: Printed for the Proprietors, Bowles & Carver No. 69 St. Paul's Church Yard. Just Published Terry's Complete Round of Cyphers, consisting of 600 examples. Price 6s.
Subjects depicted
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
E.3383-1903

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
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