Object number
67/1
Title
Smithfield club, Prize Animals, Agricultural Hall, Islington,
Exhibition
Description
Engraving print on silk of prize animals at Smithfield 1866. Framed and marked “Smithfield club, Prize Animals, Agricultural Hall, Islington.”
This is an engraving print on silk of prize animals at Smithfield 1866. It is framed and marked “Smithfield club, Prize Animals, Agricultural Hall, Islington.”
Physical description
1 silk square in frame: silk, wood
Label Text
Artist Unknown. SMITHFIELD CLUB SILK SQUARE. Images of animals on souvenir items like this illustrate quite how popular these beasts were. The Smithfield Club was established in 1798 to support breed improvement. It's first President was the Duke of Bedford and father of the man who commissioned the original Woburn Sheepshearing (see print to the far left). The same animals shown on this silk square featured on an 1861 square where they were individually named. MERL 67/1.
Archival history
MERL ‘Handwritten Accession’ form (Institute of Agricultural History) - ‘SILK SQUARE // Personal Clothing accessory // Baker Street Bazaar, London // Description: Engraving on silk of prize animals at Smithfield 1866. Framed. “Smithfield club, Prize Animals, Agricultural Hall, Islington.”// Dimensions: Light wood frame 27in x 24.5 in // Associated information: The animals shown are the same as those illustrated on another silk square which was produced for the 1861 Smithfield Show. It is probable that the squares continued to be produced for a few years after 1861 and sold at the show as souvenirs. The captions on this example are less detailed than those of 1861 and lack the names of the prize winners. [for comparison see MERL Photo Library].’
Object name
Material
Technique
Dimensions
- Height 686 mm
- Width 622 mm
Associated subject
