Hard-coded id of currently selected item: . JSON version of its record is available from Blacklight on e.g. ??
Metadata associated with selected item should appear here...
BLWA 107
- Record Id:
- 032-003264527
- Hierarchy Root Ancestor Record Id:
- 032-003264527
- MDARK:
- ark:/81055/vdc_100028181445.0x0003d0
- LARK:
- SLARK:
- Format:
- ISAD(G)
- Reference (shelfmark):
- BLWA 107
- Title:
-
A Pause on the Landing. Based on a design by Patrick Caulfield (1936-2005). Artist(s): Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh
- Scope & Content:
-
In 1993 it was decided to place a tapestry on the landing of the British Library’s Conference Centre. The tapestry’s design was created by Patrick Caulfield (1936-2005), and was inspired by Laurence Sterne’s 18th Century novel, ‘The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy’. It was made by the master weavers of Dovecot Studios Edinburgh, in 2005, and funded by Simon Draper.
Dimensions: 4.142 by 2.900 metres.
The notes below, describing the tapestry’s design, were written by Patrick Caulfield.
PARTICULAR SITUATION:
Tristram’s father Walter Shandy and his Uncle Toby pause on the landing of the staircase as they descend from the bedroom where Walter Shandy has been bemoaning the damage to his son’s nose during birth.
ELEMENTS AND ASSOCIATIONS:
The tapestry will be situated above a landing in the British Library. (The “Shandy Hall Landing”?
The military references are connected with Uncle Toby’s obsession with military events.
The shape in the centre represents Uncle Toby’s crutch, with which he accidentally hits Walter Shandy’s leg as they converse on the landing.
The top of the crutch is also the shape of a military gorget.
The upholstery studs are part of the crutch but also refer to those on the back of a chair that Uncle Toby contemplates during an awkward silence in a previous conversation.
The three studs are also military brass buttons.
The tassels refer to the tassels on the chair in the bedroom, where Uncle Toby has just been seated.
They also refer to military epaulettes.
The pink triangle on the left of the design is a reference to the concern of the moment: that is: Tristram’s nose.
The clock face on the right refers to the moment during Tristram’s conception when his mother asks his father “Pray, my dear…. Have you not forgot to wind up the clock?” The red circle on the clock is the keyhole to the winding mechanism.
Therefore the image refers to both the conception and birth of Tristram.
The grey striped areas of the design are both the staircase on which they stand and plan views of possible military fortifications i.e. Vauban.
The overall image can be seen simply as three figures:
The pink ‘nose’ form can represent Tristram Shandy
The clock: Mrs Shandy
The crutch: Uncle Toby
The observing moon above could be Tristram or Laurence Sterne.
- Collection Area:
- Visual Arts
- Project / Collection:
- BLWA Collection
British Library Works of Art - Hierarchy Tree:
- [{ "id" : "032-003264527", "parent" : "#", "text" : "BLWA 107: A Pause on the Landing. Based on a design by Patrick Caulfield (1936-2005). Artist(s): Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh" , "li_attr" : {"class": "orderable"} }]
- Hierarchy Record Ids:
- 032-003264527
- Is part of:
- not applicable
- Hierarchy:
- 032-003264527
- Container:
- not applicable
- Record Type (Level):
- Fonds
- Extent:
- 1 Item
- Digitised Content:
- Languages:
- Not applicable
- Scripts:
- Not applicable
- Start Date:
- 2005
- End Date:
- 2005
- Date Range:
- 2005
- Era:
- CE
- Access:
- Restrictions to access apply please consult British Library staff
Please request the physical items you need using the online collection item request form.
Digitised items can be viewed online by clicking the thumbnail image or digitised content link.
Readers who have registered or renewed their pass since 21 March 2024 can request physical items prior to visiting the Library by completing
this request form.
Please enter the Reference (shelfmark) above on the request form.If your Reader Pass was issued before this date, you will need to visit the Library in London or Yorkshire to renew it before you can request items online. All manuscripts and archives must be consulted at the Library in London.
This catalogue record may describe a collection of items which cannot all be requested together. Please use the hierarchy viewer to navigate to individual items. Some items may be in use or restricted for other reasons. If you would like to check the availability, contact our Reference Services team, quoting the Reference (shelfmark) above.
- User Conditions:
- Appointment required to view these records. Please consult Asian and African Studies Print Room staff.
- Material Type:
- Artefacts
- Legal Status:
- Not Public Record(s)
- Names:
- Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh