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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 (see also E.2321-1931 'Hair Devices'). This plate contains twenty-five oval-shaped designs, each numbered 1-25.

1. A centred monogram with a floral motif above and below.
2. A floral design with a border of braided hair.
3. A woman wearing a large hat with three feathers.
4. Hair in a chequered pattern within an oval, with a floral border and a striped background.
5. Monogram within a diamond shape upon a striped background.
6. A woman holding a garland within a lush landscape.
7. A man and woman walking towards a large urn, decorated with two flaming hearts. The man gestures towards the urn.
8. A woman holding a basket.
9. A man and woman seated on an outdoor bench, with a funerary monument behind them.
10. A long-haired woman in classical dress holding an anchor and pointing up towards the sky.
11. A woman standing next to a funerary monument. She holds a wreath in her right hand and rests her left arm upon a shield.
12. A shield suspended by a looping design of hair, and engraved with the monogram 'EL'. There is a striped background and a heart-shaped botanic motif surrounds the shield.
13. A woman crowning a sculpture bust atop a funerary monument. The monument is decorated with a profile portrait.
14. A monogram of 'HCJ' with hair decoration above and below in various botanical motifs.
15. A woman resting her hand upon a shield inscribed 'JE PENSE A VOUS' (I think of you). The shield rests on top of a funerary monument decorated with a stylised heart.
16. A woman walking past a field, possibly of wheat. She is holding a bouquet and lifting her apron to carry more.
17. A woman gesturing towards a large urn, beneath a tree. Two birds perch atop the urn.
18. A woman holding a bird up to her chest.
19. Two woman holding a rope, with a loose infinity-shaped knot. They are standing next to one funerary monument, and there is another in the background.
20. A woman playing a stringed instrument while walking outdoors. There is a building in the background.
21. The word "L'AMITIÉ" (friendship) engraved on an oval. There is a striped background and decorative patterns of hair above and below the inscription.
22. A monogram of 'HG' with a striped background.
23. A woman cradling a child on her lap.
24. A shield inscribed with the letter 'B'. There is a lit torch and a sheaf of arrows behind the shield. Above the shield is a bird and below there is a scroll inscribed 'AMOUR' (love).
25. The letter 'J' inscribed on an oval with a braided border. The background is an alternating pattern of horizontal and vertical lines.

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 (see also E.2321-1931 'Hair Devices'). This plate contains twenty-five oval-shaped designs, each numbered 1-25.

1. A centred monogram with a floral motif above and below.
2. A floral design with a border of braided hair.
3. A woman wearing a large hat with three feathers.
4. Hair in a chequered pattern within an oval, with a floral border and a striped background.
5. Monogram within a diamond shape upon a striped background.
6. A woman holding a garland within a lush landscape.
7. A man and woman walking towards a large urn, decorated with two flaming hearts. The man gestures towards the urn.
8. A woman holding a basket.
9. A man and woman seated on an outdoor bench, with a funerary monument behind them.
10. A long-haired woman in classical dress holding an anchor and pointing up towards the sky.
11. A woman standing next to a funerary monument. She holds a wreath in her right hand and rests her left arm upon a shield.
12. A shield suspended by a looping design of hair, and engraved with the monogram 'EL'. There is a striped background and a heart-shaped botanic motif surrounds the shield.
13. A woman crowning a sculpture bust atop a funerary monument. The monument is decorated with a profile portrait.
14. A monogram of 'HCJ' with hair decoration above and below in various botanical motifs.
15. A woman resting her hand upon a shield inscribed 'JE PENSE A VOUS' (I think of you). The shield rests on top of a funerary monument decorated with a stylised heart.
16. A woman walking past a field, possibly of wheat. She is holding a bouquet and lifting her apron to carry more.
17. A woman gesturing towards a large urn, beneath a tree. Two birds perch atop the urn.
18. A woman holding a bird up to her chest.
19. Two woman holding a rope, with a loose infinity-shaped knot. They are standing next to one funerary monument, and there is another in the background.
20. A woman playing a stringed instrument while walking outdoors. There is a building in the background.
21. The word "L'AMITIÉ" (friendship) engraved on an oval. There is a striped background and decorative patterns of hair above and below the inscription.
22. A monogram of 'HG' with a striped background.
23. A woman cradling a child on her lap.
24. A shield inscribed with the letter 'B'. There is a lit torch and a sheaf of arrows behind the shield. Above the shield is a bird and below there is a scroll inscribed 'AMOUR' (love).
25. The letter 'J' inscribed on an oval with a braided border. The background is an alternating pattern of horizontal and vertical lines.
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.2321-1931 for the 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.3380-1903

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
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