Coade stone in the V&A
The V&A Museum in South Kensington is one of my favourite museums in the world – for its clothing and textiles, its furniture and tableware and (of course) its Coade stone!
Start your mini tour in the sculpture gallery, at the end of the ramp that leads to the shop. The Monument to Sir William Hillman is on the wall, clearly stamped ‘Coade & Sealy Lambeth 1800’. The company repurposed their Vestal design, lowering the figure’s head and adding an urn to make her a mourner.
Tear yourself away from the shop (tempting) and go to level 3, room 118. After admiring the Adam ceiling, find the Coade trade card, framed on the wall. This is from William Croggon’s era (he bought the business after Coade’s death). It has the same image as the cards Coade used, and reproduced in three dimensions as the façade of her gallery. It shows ‘the Attempts of Time to destroy Sculpture and Architecture, defeated by the Vitrifying Aid of Fire.’ Fire is the torch bearer, who has so confounded Time, he drops his sickle, thus saving Sculpture and Architecture – both represented by the woman in the centre.
Above the card is an impost block in Coade stone with a fanciful palm leaf design. There is much in this room to please and inform, but when ready move on to 120 and the fabulous gothic candelabrum. I love the dragons in a huddle. This is stamped ‘Coade & Sealy Lambeth 1810’ but you will have to kneel to find it on the base, partly obscured by the higher signage post. It was one of ten made to support brass oil lamps for the Gothic conservatory of Carlton House. The client was the Prince Regent, later George IV. Another of the ten is on display at The Huntington in California (where I first learned about Eleanor Coade). The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge owns another, but it is currently in store.
