An Unusual Collection of Thirteen Wooden Printing Picture Blocks, Each Depicting Electroliers c.1910

Origin: British
Period: Early Twentieth Century
Provenance: N/A
Date: c.1910
The Largest: 5 x 6.5 inches
The Smallest: 2.5 x 3 inches
Other measurements available on request

The bakers dozen hand-cut printing blocks, each in the form of Edwardian period electroliers depicting various sizes, shapes and styles.

The condition of the blocks is excellent, and they remain un-cleaned so most of them are half blackened with ink. If properly cleaned they would come up brilliantly but we rather like them as they are.

As an art, block printing has been important in many nations, beginning in Asia about 750 A.D., and in Europe about 1350. Many blocks of this kind would have been destroyed when the new printing techniques were introduced though perhaps these blocks were originally made as examples of the different models of electroliers that a certain firm in the Edwardian period was offering to new clients.
Aside from being superbly decorative, displayed on shelves or mantelpieces, these well-crafted blocks also offer a multitude of uses from letterpress printing itself to personalising anything from stationary to entire walls. 

Whimsical and superbly decorative, these blocks illustrate a very specific subject matter and would make a wonderfully imaginative mantelpiece folly.