An improbable grave @ the V&A
6 years of regular visits to the v&A and I have just noticied these two plaques in the Pirelli yard:
Henry cole was the first director of the museum. still used to this day!
He is also known for having commissioned the first commercial Xmas card. Back in 1842, one would have handwritten a note to friends and families, wishing them the very best. Busy as he was with the daily business of the V&, cole decided to have an illustration done by a proper artist, depicting a family life and showing the sentence A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you – still This proved so successful that a thousand were printed the following year and sold for a shilling each.
Another anecdote – the British Treasury decided to tax letters and launched a competition for a stamp design. The projects proposed were disappointing and it was decided to use Queen Victoria’s profile instead. It was Cole who provided the sketch - the same one you still see on your mail today.
What about the dogs? Well Cole loved his dog - Jim - and would not part with him, the dog followed happily through the museum. At his death, the director decided to have him buried there too as they had spent so much time there together. He did the same with his next dog, Tycho. What an improbable find in a museum of art!
V&A
Cromwell Road
London SW7 2RL
Another thought for aimals with this war memorial…
4 Responses to “An improbable grave @ the V&A ”
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Chocoralie says:
Figure-toi que c’est sur mon interminable liste de choses a faire a Londres depuis de longues annees! On le fait ensemble?
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C’est le charme des grandes villes, on n’en a jamais terminé. Un détail sur une façade, une rue jamais emprunté…
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Exactement! Voici 7 ans que je ratisse et pourtant, les surprises continuent de jalonner mon parcours…
Connais-tu aussi le cimetière d’animaux de Hyde Park ?
Apparemment, on peut le visiter si on prend RDV une semaine à l’avance…