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Architectural Panel

1770-1790 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The light and elegant style of decoration favoured during the reign of Louis XVI in France in the late 18th century was greatly admired in the following century in Britain and was greatly copied. Carvers needed to develop their skill in carving the neo-classical motifs such as those on this panel. The doves and quivers suggest it was made for a bedroom, where such emblems of marital love would have been appropriate. The panel, which would have served to decorate the space above a door, is one of several hundred carvings given to the Museum in 1921 by Sir Charles Allom and his wife, in memory of their son, who died in the First World War. From 1893 Sir Charles headed White Allom & Co., one of the most successful firms of architectural decorators in Britain, specialising in the copying of historic styles. Between 1900 and 1914 he also began to work for clients in the United States and after the First World War he spent time in both countries. The collection of carvings seems to have been put together as a study collection for his son, perhaps in the expectation that he would follow in his father's footsteps and take over the firm.


Object details
Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Carved and painted wood
Brief description
Architectural panel, possibly originally forming an overdoor, of carved and painted wood, carved with a central medallion showing doves and quivers, flanked by scrolling acanthus.
Physical description
Architectural panel, originally forming an overdoor, of carved and painted wood, carved with a central medallion showing doves and quivers, flanked by scrolling acanthus.
Dimensions
  • Height: 36cm
  • Width: 115cm
  • Depth: 5cm
Dimensions taken from image taken in store
Style
Credit line
Given by Sir Charles and Lady Allom in memory of their son, Lieutenant Cedric Allom RFA
Summary
The light and elegant style of decoration favoured during the reign of Louis XVI in France in the late 18th century was greatly admired in the following century in Britain and was greatly copied. Carvers needed to develop their skill in carving the neo-classical motifs such as those on this panel. The doves and quivers suggest it was made for a bedroom, where such emblems of marital love would have been appropriate. The panel, which would have served to decorate the space above a door, is one of several hundred carvings given to the Museum in 1921 by Sir Charles Allom and his wife, in memory of their son, who died in the First World War. From 1893 Sir Charles headed White Allom & Co., one of the most successful firms of architectural decorators in Britain, specialising in the copying of historic styles. Between 1900 and 1914 he also began to work for clients in the United States and after the First World War he spent time in both countries. The collection of carvings seems to have been put together as a study collection for his son, perhaps in the expectation that he would follow in his father's footsteps and take over the firm.
Collection
Accession number
W.424-1921

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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