DOULTON OF LAMBETH

Details

A group of five English glazed stoneware tile panels, circa 1885
Doulton of Lambeth
Each depicting a character from a play by Ben Jonson, including Morose, Brainworm, Quicksilver, Host Goodstock and Golding, the stained oak moulded frames bearing lines from the plays: THE SILENT WOMAN. 1609. Out rogue and must thou blow thy horn too. O men o'manners, was there ever such impudence? -- EVERY MAN IN HIS HUMOUR. 1598. Nay, excellent justice since I have laid myself thus open to you, now stand strong for me -- EASTWARD HOE. 1605. I went in silks and satins gay, false metal of good manners -- THE NEW INN. 1629. Give me good wine or Catholic or Christian. Wine is the word that glads the heart of men -- EASTWARD HOE. 1605. From trades, from arts, from valour, these three are founts of gentry, all marked DOULTON & CO. LAMBETH at the lower corners
53¼in. (135.3cm.) high overall, widths ranging from 24¼ - 30in. (61.6 - 76.2cm.) overall (5)

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

These Doulton panels were originally commissioned to decorate the walls of The Royal Courts of Justice Restaurant, which opened at 222, the Strand, London in 1883. The establishment occupied the ground floor of a new building that had been constructed on the site of the Palsgrave Head Tavern, an inn that had been much frequented by Ben Jonson, hence the specific subject matter of the panels recalling some of Jonson's works. Unfortunately, despite the highly decorative internal schemes, the restaurant failed to attract enough business, and closed soon afterwards. The derelict building was then taken over by Lloyds Bank in 1895, becoming the Law Courts Branch. It was described in the Penny Illustrated Paper in that year as the handsomest and most elegant bank in London.
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
Julian Barnard Victorian Ceramic Tiles, Studio Vista, London 1972

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