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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 thirty-seven oval-shaped designs, each numbered 1-37.

1. An urn with foliage below.
2. A funerary monument beneath a willow tree. One bird stands on the monument, while another flies above. The each hold one end of a string.
3. An urn inscribed with the initials 'IH' and the year '1781'.
4. A figure holding an anchor and pointing to the side. There are two ships in the background.
5. A bird perches atop a funerary monument, dipping its beak into a vessel.
6. A seated figure plays a lyre beneath a tree.
7. An urn inscribed with 'EB'.
8. To the left, a woman kneels before a figure holding a scythe and freshly reaped wheat.
9. A ewer inscribed 'PB'.
10. The allegorical figure Justice, holding a sword and a set of scales.
11. A woman and man sit indoors holding hands. With her free hand, the woman is holding a small object, possibly a book. There is a painting on the wall behind the couple.
12. A funerary monument shaped like an obelisk and inscribed with a monogram. Two peacocks perch on the monument.
13. An urn with decorative volute handles.
14. An octogram design, with an oval in the centre, and triangles between each of the eight points.
15. An urn with volute handles.
16. Two putti figures holding birds.
17. A monogram on a chequered background.
18. An allegorical grouping with an inverted triangle composition. To the left, a tonsured and bearded man points down to a kneeling, nude child. The child holds a cup to catch the liquid poured from a vessel carried by a woman. She rests the vessel on a funerary monument and holds a garland with her left hand.
19. A lock of hair flanked by an 'E' and 'R' respectively.
20. An urn with foliage beneath.
21. A monogram surrounded by an oval border with a looping pattern.
22. Two allegorical figures sit by a funerary monument beneath a weeping willow tree. The monument is decorated with a skull and crossbones. Below the figures the word 'FRIENDSHIP' is inscribed along with the date '1781.'
23. A bird flies free of an open birdcage. Above, the word 'LIBERTY' is inscribed.
24. An urn inscribed 'JH', with flames at the top.
25. A monogram with a decorative border.
26. A woman leans onto a funerary monument beneath a weeping willow tree. She rests her head on her hand. The monument is decorated with a portrait and inscribed 'To the memory' and 'Obit Sepr, 14th, 1781.'
27. An interlacing design with a border.
28. An urn inscribed 'Memento mori.'
29. A bow-like pattern of hair in the centre, with a scalloped border.
30. A woman stands next to a funerary monument. In one hand, she holds an empty cup, and with the other hand she lifts a cloth to reveal an urn inscribed '1781'. The monument is decorated with shields.
31. A monogram 'JB' on a chequered pattern.
32. An urn with volute handles and a flame on the top.
33. A woman holding a broken bow in her right hand, while her left carries a putti-like figure.
34. A figure with wings, which are decorated with dots, puts one hand up to his mouth.
35. A woman next to a funerary monument inscribed 'MP' and '1781' There are flames coming from the top, and smoke rises.
36. A man sits playing an instrument while a woman stands nearby. There are sheep at their feet.
37. An allegorical figure places a garland around an urn. The urn sits atop a funerary monument inscribed 'Virture fhall [shall] live when ... Obit ... 1781.'


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 thirty-seven oval-shaped designs, each numbered 1-37.

1. An urn with foliage below.
2. A funerary monument beneath a willow tree. One bird stands on the monument, while another flies above. The each hold one end of a string.
3. An urn inscribed with the initials 'IH' and the year '1781'.
4. A figure holding an anchor and pointing to the side. There are two ships in the background.
5. A bird perches atop a funerary monument, dipping its beak into a vessel.
6. A seated figure plays a lyre beneath a tree.
7. An urn inscribed with 'EB'.
8. To the left, a woman kneels before a figure holding a scythe and freshly reaped wheat.
9. A ewer inscribed 'PB'.
10. The allegorical figure Justice, holding a sword and a set of scales.
11. A woman and man sit indoors holding hands. With her free hand, the woman is holding a small object, possibly a book. There is a painting on the wall behind the couple.
12. A funerary monument shaped like an obelisk and inscribed with a monogram. Two peacocks perch on the monument.
13. An urn with decorative volute handles.
14. An octogram design, with an oval in the centre, and triangles between each of the eight points.
15. An urn with volute handles.
16. Two putti figures holding birds.
17. A monogram on a chequered background.
18. An allegorical grouping with an inverted triangle composition. To the left, a tonsured and bearded man points down to a kneeling, nude child. The child holds a cup to catch the liquid poured from a vessel carried by a woman. She rests the vessel on a funerary monument and holds a garland with her left hand.
19. A lock of hair flanked by an 'E' and 'R' respectively.
20. An urn with foliage beneath.
21. A monogram surrounded by an oval border with a looping pattern.
22. Two allegorical figures sit by a funerary monument beneath a weeping willow tree. The monument is decorated with a skull and crossbones. Below the figures the word 'FRIENDSHIP' is inscribed along with the date '1781.'
23. A bird flies free of an open birdcage. Above, the word 'LIBERTY' is inscribed.
24. An urn inscribed 'JH', with flames at the top.
25. A monogram with a decorative border.
26. A woman leans onto a funerary monument beneath a weeping willow tree. She rests her head on her hand. The monument is decorated with a portrait and inscribed 'To the memory' and 'Obit Sepr, 14th, 1781.'
27. An interlacing design with a border.
28. An urn inscribed 'Memento mori.'
29. A bow-like pattern of hair in the centre, with a scalloped border.
30. A woman stands next to a funerary monument. In one hand, she holds an empty cup, and with the other hand she lifts a cloth to reveal an urn inscribed '1781'. The monument is decorated with shields.
31. A monogram 'JB' on a chequered pattern.
32. An urn with volute handles and a flame on the top.
33. A woman holding a broken bow in her right hand, while her left carries a putti-like figure.
34. A figure with wings, which are decorated with dots, puts one hand up to his mouth.
35. A woman next to a funerary monument inscribed 'MP' and '1781' There are flames coming from the top, and smoke rises.
36. A man sits playing an instrument while a woman stands nearby. There are sheep at their feet.
37. An allegorical figure places a garland around an urn. The urn sits atop a funerary monument inscribed 'Virture fhall [shall] live when ... Obit ... 1781.'
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.2323-1931 for an earlier printing of these designs in 'Hair Devices' ca. 1780s.
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.3382-1903

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
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