Explore Collections
You are here:
CollectionsOnline
/
Ashburnham Place, Sussex, 1813-14
Browse
Reference number
SM D2/5/4
Purpose
Ashburnham Place, Sussex, 1813-14
Aspect
[120] Elevation of 'branch', as executed, and four railings and detail of 'branch'
Scale
full size
Signed and dated
- 1813-14
Medium and dimensions
Pen, yellow and sepia washes, pencil, branch pricked for transfer on laid paper, detail stuck on, two strips added (995 x 660, 215 x 140 cut to shape)
Hand
Dance
Watermark
D & C Blauw IV and fleur-de-lis in cartouche surmounted by fleur-de-lis
Notes
The detail shows two leaves to a spray only; the executed design has a pair of heart-shaped serrated leaves and six fruits repeated five times. Ash leaves and fruit might seem more appropriate but that is not what is shown here. The head and foot of the railings are amended in person.
REPRODUCED. Stroud fig.74a.
NOTES ON [SM D2/5/38], [SM D2/5/28], [SM D2/5/25], [SM D2/5/23], [SM D2/5/24], [SM D2/5/22], [SM D2/5/3], [SM D2/5/9], [SM D2/5/2], [SM D2/5/10], [SM D2/5/5] and [SM D2/5/4]
Dance designed several alternative treatments for the 'branch' element of the stair and gallery railing. James Carter's accounts include an item 'Models & Moulds full Size / for Railings & Balustradings / to Grand Staircase' for which the labour (37 days and 1½ hours) cost £11.2s.11d. and included 'turning 19 / Columns and 1 Base and / Carving branch Leaf pattern'. A later bill for 'Moulds &c Grand Staircase / for Iron Founder to cast from' included a 'Lime Tree & / carving an Olive Branch' (ASH 2806, 1812-15). The full-size details of the executed design above most resemble the leaves and fruit of a lime tree; earlier designs had included bellflower as well as alternative versions of lime. It is noticeable that while Dance drew the form and details of, say, an order ([SM D2/2/21]) with assured economy, naturalistic ornament needed several attempts including models. Then again, perhaps the client contributed his own ideas.
Carter's role, as well as making mock-ups, was to turn and carve full-size moulds of the stair railing elements for the iron founder, William Bound, whose bill of 16 September 1816 detailed 'To Casting, fitting and fixing Iron railings for / Grand Staircase at Ashburnham Place. / cast Ballusters Branches & Scroll Pannels. / Wrought Iron Capping rail &c & railing / for 3 Arches Adjoining viz / 312 Ballusters [...] 42 double Ballusters [...] 26 Scroll Pannels [...] 179 Branches [...] 206 ft Top Rail [...] 2 Strong Newell Bases'. The total bill was £300.15s.6d. of which £15 covered 'Making sundry Patterns in brass & Iron / Scroll Patterns, altering & making new / Leafage Patterns' (ASH 2818).
REPRODUCED. Stroud fig.74a.
NOTES ON [SM D2/5/38], [SM D2/5/28], [SM D2/5/25], [SM D2/5/23], [SM D2/5/24], [SM D2/5/22], [SM D2/5/3], [SM D2/5/9], [SM D2/5/2], [SM D2/5/10], [SM D2/5/5] and [SM D2/5/4]
Dance designed several alternative treatments for the 'branch' element of the stair and gallery railing. James Carter's accounts include an item 'Models & Moulds full Size / for Railings & Balustradings / to Grand Staircase' for which the labour (37 days and 1½ hours) cost £11.2s.11d. and included 'turning 19 / Columns and 1 Base and / Carving branch Leaf pattern'. A later bill for 'Moulds &c Grand Staircase / for Iron Founder to cast from' included a 'Lime Tree & / carving an Olive Branch' (ASH 2806, 1812-15). The full-size details of the executed design above most resemble the leaves and fruit of a lime tree; earlier designs had included bellflower as well as alternative versions of lime. It is noticeable that while Dance drew the form and details of, say, an order ([SM D2/2/21]) with assured economy, naturalistic ornament needed several attempts including models. Then again, perhaps the client contributed his own ideas.
Carter's role, as well as making mock-ups, was to turn and carve full-size moulds of the stair railing elements for the iron founder, William Bound, whose bill of 16 September 1816 detailed 'To Casting, fitting and fixing Iron railings for / Grand Staircase at Ashburnham Place. / cast Ballusters Branches & Scroll Pannels. / Wrought Iron Capping rail &c & railing / for 3 Arches Adjoining viz / 312 Ballusters [...] 42 double Ballusters [...] 26 Scroll Pannels [...] 179 Branches [...] 206 ft Top Rail [...] 2 Strong Newell Bases'. The total bill was £300.15s.6d. of which £15 covered 'Making sundry Patterns in brass & Iron / Scroll Patterns, altering & making new / Leafage Patterns' (ASH 2818).
Level
Drawing
Digitisation of the Drawings Collection has been made possible through the generosity of the Leon Levy Foundation
If you have any further information about this object, please contact us: drawings@soane.org.uk