Pilaster
ca. 1855 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This pilaster and its pair were shown at the Paris International Exhibition in 1855. Their maker, Michel-Victor Cruchet, was a celebrated carver, who supplied many pieces of furniture to the households of both King Louis-Philippe and Emperor Napoleon III.
Carving was extremely fashionable throughout Europe from about 1840 to 1870. The curators of the newly formed South Kensington Museum, which later became the V&A, bought many pieces from the various international exhibitions of the period. Their declared intention was to show these as examples of excellent craftsmanship, with the aim of improving the skills of British woodcarvers. At the time, woodcarving was practised as a craft by both men and women, though most carvers in commercial workshops were men. This pilaster, shown on the left of the image, is carved with the date of the exhibition and the painted cartouche shows a figure of Minerva, goddess of the arts.
Carving was extremely fashionable throughout Europe from about 1840 to 1870. The curators of the newly formed South Kensington Museum, which later became the V&A, bought many pieces from the various international exhibitions of the period. Their declared intention was to show these as examples of excellent craftsmanship, with the aim of improving the skills of British woodcarvers. At the time, woodcarving was practised as a craft by both men and women, though most carvers in commercial workshops were men. This pilaster, shown on the left of the image, is carved with the date of the exhibition and the painted cartouche shows a figure of Minerva, goddess of the arts.
Object details
Category | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 3 parts.
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Materials and techniques | Carved limewood, with painting <i>en grisaille</i> on canvas |
Brief description | Of carved limewood in Louis XIV style, with arabesques and a central painted cartouche showing Minerva |
Physical description | Pilaster of carved limewood, in Louis XIV style, with arabesque ornament and naturalistic carving of birds and cupids. The central cartouche is painted en grisaille with a figure of the Roman goddess Minerva, patroness of the arts. A tablet above is carved with the date '1855'. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions |
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Gallery label | TWO PILASTERS
Manufacturer: Michel-Victor Cruchet
Paris: about 1855
Carved limewood with applied paintings on canvas
2714&a-1856
These pilasters were purchased from the Paris 1855 Exhibition for £240 when they were described as 'in the style of Louis XIV'. In 1856 Cruchet, a famous ornamental sculptor, decorated the Emperor Napoleon III's petit salon at the Château de Saint Cloud in the Louis XVI style. One is dated and signed 'CRUEHET Sculpteur rue Ntre. Dme. de Lorette Paris', the other signed CRUCHET Sculpteur Paris'.(pre 1990) |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This pilaster and its pair were shown at the Paris International Exhibition in 1855. Their maker, Michel-Victor Cruchet, was a celebrated carver, who supplied many pieces of furniture to the households of both King Louis-Philippe and Emperor Napoleon III. Carving was extremely fashionable throughout Europe from about 1840 to 1870. The curators of the newly formed South Kensington Museum, which later became the V&A, bought many pieces from the various international exhibitions of the period. Their declared intention was to show these as examples of excellent craftsmanship, with the aim of improving the skills of British woodcarvers. At the time, woodcarving was practised as a craft by both men and women, though most carvers in commercial workshops were men. This pilaster, shown on the left of the image, is carved with the date of the exhibition and the painted cartouche shows a figure of Minerva, goddess of the arts. |
Collection | |
Accession number | 2714:1 to 3-1856 |
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Record created | June 1, 2001 |
Record URL |
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