International studio (33.1907/1908(1908))

Studio-Talk



CHEST

DESIGNED AND CARVED BY MISS F. B. ADAM

Illusion, which is the beginning and end of the
art of the theatre, is not insured by the imitation of
real objects, but by the study
of how to produce under ar-
ranged conditions the effect of
real objects. Obvious as this
seems those responsible for the
stage art of London theatres
appear to have awaited en-
lightenment from the designs
of Mr. Charles Ricketts for
“Attila,” lately played at His
Majesty’s Theatre. The stage
jewellery which we reproduce
from his designs has been
executed by hand with inge-
nuity, and a regard to beauty,
by Mrs. Gwendolen Bishop, out
of such inexpensive materials
as brass, copper, gilded leather,
coloured beads, etc. This was
probably the first play of
modern times where even the
smallest jewels were made by
hand, Mrs. Bishop making
some 130 after Mr. Ricketts’
designs. Apart from the scho-
larship and art in these designs,
perfect adaptability to their
purpose is their supreme merit.

In Mrs. Borough Johnson’s
work there is displayed an in-
terest in some of the more
ordinary aspects of life. Mrs.
Johnson has acquired a tech-
nique with the pencil scarcely
less interesting than that of
her husband, whose drawings
are so well known. In the
drawing which we repro-
duce, the study has been made of a phase of life
that is seldom treated by such a reverent pencil,

to readers of The Studio.
Miss Adam has undoubtedly
received some influence from
Miss Moller’s designs, but
her work nevertheless is dis-
tinctive, and the plant forms
carved on the chest are very
happy in their character.

We reproduce a wood carved
chest by Miss F. B. Adam, a
pupil of Miss M. Moller, whose
wood-carvings are well known
138

ENAMEL PANEL : “ THE QUEEN OF CHARITY ”

BY. ALEXANDER FISHER