Category: Victorian

American oak fretwork from the turn of the last century. For sure it’s beyond the technical reach of most anyone alive now but back then if you looked up it was what you saw.

Archway. 1885.
Archway. 1885. Stick and ball fretwork. Architectural salvage. Image ©1998-2019 Harp Gallery Antique Furniture. Fair use license. via https://www.harpgallery.com/shop/item26582.html
Interior residential fretwork. 1880's.
Interior residential fretwork. 1880’s. Chicago, Illinois. Architectural salvage. © 2019 Urban Remains. Fair use license. via https://www.urbanremainschicago.com/original-1880-s-victorian-era-salvaged-chicago-solid-oak-wood-architectural-stick-and-ball-interior-residential-fretwork.html
Ball and stick fretwork. Victorian.
Ball and stick fretwork. Victorian. © 2016 Lefflers Antiques, Toledo . Fair use license. via http://lefflersantiques.com/wp-content/uploads/imported/2/Antique-Victorian-Oak-Ball-And-Stick-Fretwork-24-x-38-12-192404489052.jpg

Enameled jeweled up portraits of British Victorian pets. Mostly by William Essex (ca. 1784-1969).

Fox mask brooch. ca. 1905.
Fox mask brooch. ca. 1905. Enamel, platinum, diamond and pearl. Enamel work is most likely by William Essex. Image © Hamshere Gallery, London. Fair use license. via http://www.hamsheregallery.co.uk/stock.php?id=851
Head of a black and tan terrier. 1867.
Head of a black and tan terrier (left). 1867. Signed and dated by William Essex. White terriers after a painting by Landseer. Two scarf pins and a brooch. Image © Bonhams 2001-2019. Fair use license. via https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21338/lot/16/?category=results&length=90&page=1
Cat pendant set with diamonds. Undated.
Cat pendant set with diamonds. Undated. Presumed to be by William Essex. Image © Daisy Antiques. Fair use license. via https://chatsworthlady.com/2016/05/24/antique-essex-crystal-jewelry-animals/
White bulldog, brown and white bulldog and white terrier (left to right).
White bulldog, brown and white bulldog and white terrier (left to right). 1862. Signed and dated William Essex. Scarf pins. Image © Bonhams 2001-2019. Fair use license. via https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21338/lot/10/?category=list&length=10&page=1
Enamel of a Landseer Newfoundland. Undated.
Enamel of a Landseer Newfoundland. Undated. William Essex after the dog “Bob” in a painting by Landseer. Image © Hamshere Gallery, London. Fair use license. via http://www.hamsheregallery.co.uk/stock.php?id=251

Winged ladies bound for somewhere a few galaxies away by the Victorian English painter Edward Robert Hughes. Living from 1851 to 1914, he was influenced by but not part of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.

"Dream Idyll" ("A Valkyrie"). Before 1902.
“Dream Idyll” (“A Valkyrie”). Before 1902. Gouache and pastel of stretched paper. Private collection. In the public domain because the artist died over 70 years ago. via https://www.the-athenaeum.org/art/detail.php?ID=188746
"Wings of the Morning." Undated.
“Wings of the Morning.” Undated. Image © Sothebys, New York. Painting in the public domain because the artist has been dead over 70 years. via http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2011/19th-century-european-art-n08783/lot.61.html
"Night with her Train of Stars." 1912.
“Night with her Train of Stars.” 1912. Watercolor, bodycolor and gold medium. Collection of the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham. In the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1924. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edward_Robert_Hughes_-_Night_with_her_Train_of_Stars_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg

Trade catalogs for tiles and such from just before the turn of the last century. Enough to decorate all every inch of everything, not a mere one or two.

"Hearth tiles. George Wooliscroft and Son."
“Hearth tiles. George Wooliscroft and Son.” Plate from “The Contractors’ Compendium and Complete Catalogue, edited by John Edward Sears. 1890. Published in London and Melbourne, Australia. Collection of the Caroline Simpson Library and Research Collection, Sydney. In the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1924. via http://collection.hht.net.au/images_linked/40248b.jpg
"Designs of embossed majolica tiles."
“Designs of embossed majolica tiles.” Plate 21 from Minton, Hollins & Company’s catalog “Patent Tile Works. Illustrated Patterns of Tiles for Pavements, Hearths, etc.” ca 1860. Image © Swann Galleries, New York. Fair use license. via https://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/asp/fullCatalogue.asp?salelot=2475++++++71+&refno=++741368&saletyp
"Encaustic Tiles."
“Encaustic Tiles”, from the Maw and Company catalog “Patterns, Geometrical and Roman Mosaics, Encaustic Tile Pavements and Enamelled Wall Decorations”. University of Edinburgh Image Collections. Cc0 license 2.0. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maw_And_Co.%27s_Patterns,_Geometrical_and_Roman_Mosaics,_Encaustic_Tile_Pavements_and_Enamelled_Wall_Decorations_(24970710671).jpg
"Designs of pavements for passages, corridors, entrances, etc."
“Designs of pavements for passages, corridors, entrances, etc,” from a Minton, Hollins and Company catalog. 1899. Collection of the Caroline Simpson Library and Research Collection, Sydney. In the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1924. via http://collection.hht.net.au/images_linked/2894c.jpg
"Designs of embossed, enamelled, glazed and printed dado tiles."
“Designs of embossed, enamelled, glazed and printed dado tiles” from a Minton, Hollins and Company 1899 catalog. Collection of the Caroline Simpson Library and Research Collection, Sydney. In the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1924. via http://collection.hht.net.au/images_linked/2894d.jpg
"Hearth and panel tiles."
“Hearth and panel tiles,” from a George Woolliscroft & Son 1903 catalog. Collection of the Caroline Simpson Library and Research Collection, Sydney. In the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1924. via http://collection.hht.net.au/images_linked/39746_sheet38.jpg

People worth flying away with to anywhere. Not your average holiday angel by any standard. English. George Frederic Watts, artist (1817-1904).

"Love Triumphant." 1900.
“Love Triumphant.” 1900. Photo credit: Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village. © ArtUK. Fair use license. via https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/love-triumphant-13337
"The Sower of the Systems." 1902.
“The Sower of the Systems.” 1902. © 2013 Art Gallery of Ontario. Fair use license. via http://artgalleryofontario.tumblr.com/post/72973230635/the-sower-of-the-systems-1902-george-frederick
"Love and Life." 1884-1885.
“Love and Life.” 1884-1885. Collection of the Tate Gallery. Cc licence 3.0. via https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/watts-love-and-life-n01641.