Object of the Day, Museum Edition: Contrary Winds by Thomas Webster, 1843

Contrary Winds
Thomas Webster, 1843
The Victoria & Albert Museum

A few weeks ago a shared with you an engraving from my collection. The engraving is a reproduction of a painting, but I was unsure as to what the painting was and/or who it was by. I’ve since, accidentally, discovered the original in the collection of the V&A.

The original painting upon which the engraving was based is called, “Contrary Winds” and is the work of Thomas Webster from 1843. Typical of the time, it shows a domestic interior scene with children.

The original painting—oil on mahogany board--by Webster was purchased by collector John Sheepshanks who amassed an impressive array of canvasses, mostly of similarly sentimental scenes. According to Sheepshank’s records, preserved in the V&A when the painting was exhibited at the British Institution in 1844, “the critics noted that the game [of sailing boats in a washtub] had not yet become very animated and the whole picture was really a study of a cottage interior with admirably painted figures in rather a Dutch style.”

Thomas Webster (1800-1886) began his career as a portrait painter, but devoted the bulk of his career to small-scale genre painting. Charles Dickens was a notable fan of Webster and thought him such a good a painter of children that he commissioned him to paint scenes for his novel Nicholas Nickelby.

Object of the Day: A Souvenir of the Coronation of King George V and Mary of Teck

This lovely souvenir mug from 1911 is a near twin to another in my collection. While this one also features portraits of Queen Mary and King George V amidst symbols of the Empire (including clover and English roses), the reverse is slightly different.


The reverse of its cousin features an arrangement of roses while this one’s reverse is decorated with the crossed flags of England and the Monarchy. Both mugs are exceptional for their fine detail and brilliant color—fitting for one of the most important reigns in British history.

Object of the Day: A Victorian Egyptian Revival Stickpin

As British archaeologists made surprising and wonderful discoveries in Egypt in the 1870s, designers of the time began to incorporate Egytptian motifs into their art. Furniture, architecture, and especially jewelry began to see the influence of ancient Egyptian style.


This glittering stickpin shows the influence of Egyptian design on British jewelers. Her face is constructed of rosy, hand-painted enamel over gold. The enamel work is exquisite and shows a depth and radiance that perfectly mimics natural skin tone. Her hair, tendrils of gold, cascades over her face, and her diadem is set with mine cut diamonds and rubies mounted by a single, perfect pearl.

In excellent condition, this Victorian stickpin was probably the star of the show and a very prized possession. Worn in the silk cravat of a fine gentleman, she would have stared out mysteriously, beckoning all who gazed upon her to explore the treasures of the world.

Decorating Tip: Add Dimension to a Room

A grouping of objects including an antique crumb catcher.

Pictures aren’t the only things you can hang on your wall. You can add interest to any room by displaying three-dimensional objects as well. By using a wall sconce, bracket or shelf, you can show off your favorite vase or sculpture. Plates and platters—antique or otherwise—make beautiful decorations. Plate hangers are inexpensive and easy to use. Whether alone or grouped with other objects, a three dimensional work of art will bring a new life to any space.