 |
| Click on image to see the fairest of them all. Hand Mirror England, 1850-1875 The Victoria & Albert Museum |
I’ve written many times before how much I love Victorian papier-mache items, especially those which have been inlaid with mother-of-pearl and painted with scenes and designs. This hand mirror from 1850-1875 is an excellent example of that unique art. The mirror was acquired by the V&A in 1875 to add to its “Animal Products” Collection as a means of demonstrating the use of mother-of-pearl as adornment.
Prince Albert founded this collection in 1853 as part of the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A). His Majesty’s idea was to exhibit a collection of manufactured items which were made from native raw materials. He suggested that these be divided into the categories of animal, vegetable and mineral. The “Animal Products” collection was the only one, however, that was ultimately formed per Prince Albert’s specifications.
No comments:
Post a Comment