Plate, Lithograph

Artifact

Accession Number:
2015.1.161a
Description
**Picture Block** T&G rectangular wood block with zinc plate attached to the front. Front: This block depicts a lion tamer holding a whip and chair, down on his right knee in a circus ring surrounded by 23 lions and tigers (12 & 11 respectively). There are 12 lions and tigers, five in the middle are on stands, across the top of the block (42.2cm W x 6.5cm L). Two lions with their paws up on a stand 6.5 cm down from the top right corner. Then a lion and tiger in the bottom corner 12cm W x 10.5 cm L. To the left of the lions on the stand and the lion & tiger in the corner is the aforementioned lion tamer covering an area of 13.5cm W x 19cm L approximately. In the bottom left corner/foreground are 3 tigers and 1 lion in a 22cm W x 13cm L area. Slightly behind these tigers but the focus in the center, is a lion that appears to be jumping toward the lion tamer approximately. 19 cm W x 11 cm L, beginning 7.5cm from the left edge and 13 cm from the bottom edge. To the left of the focus lion are the last two lions, paws up on a stand, approximately. 12cm W x 10 cm L. This block has been etched so that the darker details like the manes and stripes will appear in blue. Therefore the dark lines on the blue block are raised. There is also an extra pocket detail on the tamers shirt front. The recessed areas on the tamer are also slightly smaller. In size (block) and overall image both blocks are identical, the only differences are in the depth of etched patterns and stain colour. Sides: Residual blue stain on wood nearest the zinc plate. Back: Back is plain wood with part of a gold screw stuck in the center (top) of the block.
Materials
Wood (basswood or pine) and zinc
Measurements
27.8 cm L x 42.2 cm W x 2.3 cm H
Marks/Labels
Category
Printing T&E