A catalogue of the articles of ornamental art, in the museum of the department, for the use of students and manufactures, and the consultation of the public

Abstract

Introduction

The formation of a Museum of Manufactures of a high order of excellence in Design, or of rare skill in Art Workmanship, had long been considered desirable, as well for the use of Schools of Ornamental Art as for the improvement of the public taste in Design ; and the Great Exhibition of 1851, affording a favourable opportunity for obtaining suitable specimens, the Board of Trade requested a Committee to recommend articles for purchase, and subsequently to prepare a Catalogue, which should set forth the prices of the various articles, and the reasons for purchase, together with any other particulars it might be desirable to know in the use and study of the Collection.

2. The funds which the Treasury allowed for this purpose were limited to £5,000, of which £4,470 16s. 5d. have been expended in the following proportions :- Articles exhibited on the Foreign Side of the Exhibition £2075 s9 d0 Articles exhibited on the British Side of the Exhibition £893 s18 d11 Articles exhibited by the East India Company £1501 s9 d6 [Total] £4,470 16 5

3. Apportioning this amount to large groups of Manufactures, the expenditure in each will be as follows ; the prices of foreign articles being exclusive of Customs dues, &c. :- £ s. d. Woven Fabrics - £1,080 s0 d4 Metal Works - £426 s15 d6 Enamels - £844 s12 d0 Ceramic Manufactures - £348 s6 d7 Wood Carvings and Furniture - £771 s2 d0

4. As a first principle in making the selections, the Committee felt it to be their duty to discard any predilections they might have for particular styles of ornament, and to choose whatever appeared especially meritorious or useful, if it came within the limits of the means at their disposal, without reference to the style of ornament which had been adopted. The Collection accordingly possesses specimens of many European and several Asiatic styles. Yet each specimen has been selected for its merits in exemplifying some right principle of construction or of ornament, or some feature of workmanship to which it appeared desirable that the attention of our Students and Manufacturers should be directed.

5. Most of the examples, indeed, in the opinion of the Committee, have a mixed character. Some, like most of those from the East, illustrate correct principles of ornament, but are of rude workmanship; whilst others, chiefly European specimens, show superior skill in workmanship, but are often defective in the principles of their design. Thus, the Paris shawl, by Duché Ainé (W 120), was rewarded by the Jurors as a triumph of manufacture, but its direct imitations of natural objects appear to the Committee to be of very inferior design to the ruder scarfs of Tunis, or the Kink.hobs of Ahmedabad.

6. An attempt has been made in the Catalogue to indicate the more salient points of merit and defect in most of the articles, as far as space would permit. This of necessity has been done imperfectly, but we look forward to many opportunities occurring when the features of the several purchases may be fully and systematically explained... [Excerpt]