Victoria Embankment, on the north bank of the Thames in London (UK) is home to one of the many obelisks that were removed from Egypt in the 19th Century.Not only does the obelisk survive, currently undergoing partial restoration, but a set of Egyptomaniac features are closely associated with it including twin sphinxes and public benches held up by miniature sphinxes and camels.
The Victoria Embankment obelisk, which puts up with all the wind and weather hurtling down the Thames, is referred to on all local maps as "Cleopatra's Needle". It has nothing to do with any of the Cleopatras, of course, and was actually erected by Tuthmosis III in Helipopolis.
It was transported to the UK from Alexandria and had quite an eventful journey, which is outlined at historic-uk.com. The obelisk is flanked by a pair of sphinxes and its base is encased in Egyptian-themed motifs of the era, all made of bronze.
I have very little information about the benches, which is a shame because they are great fun. The camel bench indicates that it was made by Z.D. Berry and Sons of Regent St, Westiminster, but I need to have a look around to find out who commissioned them. The benches extend along the entire of the Victoria Emankment.
Back tomorrow with a proper blog update
Andie
xx
3 comments:
I hope you do find out about the benches. I have furniture with almost exactly those carved heads/wings on them and have been trying to date them for a long time.
Thanks!
Hi Debra
During the period between 1800-20 in Europe particularily in France Egyptianized furniture was popular known as "Empire". There was a short revival of this style in the 1870's too. Again when king Tutankhamun's tomb was found in the 1920's but this should be obviously leaning to the "Art Deco" style (modern).
The better the quality the more likely the older. Carved or molded plaster may lean towards the 1870's revival.
Though without seeing it can only be an educated guess.
Hi Debra and Tim.
According to the book The Egyptian Revival by James Stevens Curl the benches were made at the Albion Works in Westminster and were based on designs made by the office of Sir Joseph Willam Bazalgette (1819-91) who was Engineer to the Board of Works in 1874. The benches along the Victoria Embankment are actually reporductions of the 1874 Bazalgette-Berry designs made by the SLB Foundry, Sittingbourne, Kent. The reproductions were made in 1977.
Hope that this helps!
Andie
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