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An Historic Mantelpiece at the Royal Institution

Abstract

A FINE mantelpiece in the Adam style, an attractive example of the work of the late eighteenth century, has recently been acquired by, and erected in, the Library of the Royal Institution. It comes from the house of the botanist, Sir Joseph Banks, at 32 Soho Square, London, now unfortunately demolished, in which the Institution was founded. It is thus an object of historic interest in its new home. Moreover the recent vicissitudes of the mantelpiece, particularly of the central Wedgwood panel which forms its principal ornament, are not without interest.

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References

  1. "Journal of the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks". Edited by Sir Joseph D. Hooker. London: Macmillan, 1896.

  2. "Captain Cook's Journal during his First Voyage round the World". Edited by W. J. L. Wharton. London, 1893.

  3. "Recollections of Past Life". By Sir Henry Holland. London, 1872. Pp. 212–216.

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MARTIN, T. An Historic Mantelpiece at the Royal Institution. Nature 141, 437–439 (1938). https://doi.org/10.1038/141437a0

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