Sydenham Crystal Palace

Main image for Sydenham Crystal Palace

Image copyright © Science Museum Library / Science & Society Picture Library, 2011

Non-commercial use permitted with Credit © Science Museum Library / Science & Society Picture Library -- All rights reserved.

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view of font in context

sepia photograph taken in 1911: "Medieval Court, the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, London, 1911. Gothic font and archway." -- In the Science Museum Library / Science & Society Picture Library [Image No. 10436305] This is a Rights Managed image. OK to use with credit Credit © Science Museum Library / Science & Society Picture Library -- All rights reserved.
Scene Description: sepia photograph taken in 1911: "Medieval Court, the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, London, 1911. Gothic font and archway." -- In the Science Museum Library / Science & Society Picture Library [Image No. 10436305] This is a Rights Managed image. OK to use with credit Credit © Science Museum Library / Science & Society Picture Library -- All rights reserved.
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Science Museum Library / Science & Society Picture Library, 2011
Image Source: sepia photograph taken in 1911: "Medieval Court, the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, London, 1911. Gothic font and archway." -- In the Science Museum Library / Science & Society Picture Library [Image No. 10436305]
Copyright Instructions: Non-commercial use permitted with Credit © Science Museum Library / Science & Society Picture Library -- All rights reserved.

INFORMATION

Font ID: 17347CRY
Object Type: Baptismal Font1
Church / Chapel Name: not in a church: in the Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace
Site Location: Greater London, South East, England, United Kingdom
Directions to Site: Sydenham is split between the London boroughs of Southwark, Lewisham and Bromley; it was, until 1889, part of Kent
Additional Comments: "The Crystal Palace was built to house the 'Great Exhibition of the Works of the Industry of all Nations', conceived by Prince Albert (1819-1861) and held at Hyde Park, London in 1851. It was the first large-scale prefabricated ferrovitreous (iron and glass) structure and was designed by landscape designer Joseph Paxton (1801-1865). The prefabricated design made the construction, and later dismantling, easier and quicker. The structure was re-erected at Sydenham, South East London in 1854. It burned down on 30 November 1936. Illustration from ‘The Crystal Palace, Sydenham: to be sold by auction...on Tuesday 28th day of November 1911’, published in London by Knight, Frank & Rutley, 1911." [source: www.scienceandsociety.co.uk]
Font Notes:
Gothic baptismal font used at the 'Medieval Court', the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, London. The Great Exhibition of 1851 was held at Crystal Palace, in High Park, London. In 1854 the building was dismantled and re-built in Sydenham. The local parish church of St. Bartholomew was built in the 1820s. The font is in the general style of the High Gothic or Perpendicular period, the arches of the basin sides crocketed, the buttresses between them pinnacled, the panels themselves filled with deeply-carved Biblical scenes [perhaps the seven Sacraments?] including one of the Crucifixion; raised on an equally ornamented pedestal base with standing figures on the sides, and on a multi-step plinth often found under the better fonts of that period. It appears to be a Victorian imitation of the style. [NB: not able at present to ascertain whether it was ever used as a font; it was probably made specifically for the exhibition]

COORDINATES

UTM: 30U 704776 5701250

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: stone
Font Shape: octagonal, mounted
Basin Interior Shape: round
Basin Exterior Shape: octagonal