19th-Century English Papier-mâché

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The French term papier-mâché refers to pulped paper mixed with an adhesive and shaped in molds, but the 19th-century English material was made differently. It was created by gluing together sheets of paper over a form that could be further shaped with a lathe, rasp, or plane. In 1772, Henry Clay of Birmingham invented this technique and patented it that year. However, it was Jennens and Bettridge, the successor firm to Clay's, that greatly extended the range and quality of this type of work. By the 1850s, the firm was producing numerous forms, including chairs, tables, cabinets, bookcases, bedsteads, pianoforte cases, and boxes. Besides the wide spectrum of its wares, Jennens & Bettridge was also known for its mother-of-pearl decoration. In 1825, George Souter, one of the firm's employees introduced pearl-shell inlaying. Although the technique was used by others, Jennens & Bettridge appears to have made many of the finest articles of this type and is probably responsible for several of the pieces in the Reves' collection. However, the only documented example in the Reves' collection is a box that features a fanciful chinoiserie scene and five lidded interior compartments. The box's verso is stamped Jennens and Bettridge.

Adapted from
  • Dallas Museum of Art, The Wendy and Emery Reves Collection (Dallas, Texas: Dallas Museum of Art, 1985), 168.
  • Dallas Museum of Art, Decorative Arts Highlights from the Wendy and Emery Reves Collection (Dallas, Texas: Dallas Museum of Art, 1995), 53.

NOTES
I would like this rule to include objects with the classification name 'containers' but I cannot figure out how to make the rule work. - JBA 

ASSOCIATED CONTENT CHUNKS

AUDIO ASSETS 
44998500: UMO
Learn about the Reves Collection and the DMA

VIDEO ASSETS  

IMAGE ASSETS 

WEB RESOURCES 

ARCHIVAL RESOURCES

FUN FACTS 

TEACHING IDEAS 

RULES
set operator as and
apply to objects where number contains 1985.R.
apply to objects where classification_name equals furnishings 
apply to objects where medium contains wood
apply to objects where date_end lte 1900
apply to objects where date_begin gte 1800
exclude objects where number equals 1985.R.568.A-H
exclude objects where number equals 1985.R.473
exclude objects where number equals 1985.R.611

rules_operator
AND
General Description
The French term papier-mâché refers to pulped paper mixed with an adhesive and shaped in molds, but the 19th-century English material was made differently. It was created by gluing together sheets of paper over a form that could be further shaped with a lathe, rasp, or plane. In 1772, Henry Clay of Birmingham invented this technique and patented it that year. However, it was Jennens and Bettridge, the successor firm to Clay's, that greatly extended the range and quality of this type of work. By the 1850s, the firm was producing numerous forms, including chairs, tables, cabinets, bookcases, bedsteads, pianoforte cases, and boxes. Besides the wide spectrum of its wares, Jennens & Bettridge was also known for its mother-of-pearl decoration. In 1825, George Souter, one of the firm's employees introduced pearl-shell inlaying. Although the technique was used by others, Jennens & Bettridge appears to have made many of the finest articles of this type and is probably responsible for several of the pieces in the Reves' collection. However, the only documented example in the Reves' collection is a box that features a fanciful chinoiserie scene and five lidded interior compartments. The box's verso is stamped Jennens and Bettridge.

Adapted from
  • Dallas Museum of Art, The Wendy and Emery Reves Collection (Dallas, Texas: Dallas Museum of Art, 1985), 168.
  • Dallas Museum of Art, Decorative Arts Highlights from the Wendy and Emery Reves Collection (Dallas, Texas: Dallas Museum of Art, 1995), 53.

Fun Facts
 
Archival Resources

Web Resources
 

Notes
I would like this rule to include objects with the classification name 'containers' but I cannot figure out how to make the rule work. - JBA 

rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Contains
1985.R.
Apply To
Objects
constituent_id
Equals
furnishings
Apply To
Objects
medium
Contains
wood
tags
#draft
#completed
%copyedited_Gail
%inadequate rules
*Decorative Arts and Design
decorative arts: AAT: 300054168
@bartsch-allen
furnishings (Hierarchy Name): AAT: 300037335
Reves_Wendy: DMA
Reves_Emery: DMA
Villa La Pausa: DMA
Reves_Emery: ULAN: 500444887
Chinoiserie: AAT: 300021167
furniture designers: AAT: 300386292
lathes: AAT: 300023793
papier mache (material): AAT: 300014245
papier-mache art: AAT: 300387262
papier-mache artists: AAT: 300386232
44998500: UMO
rasps (cutting tools): AAT: 300024818
Jennens and Bettridge: ULAN: 500398843
249621743: UMO
249334332: UMO
source file
materials_and_techniques-0157.xml.nores