Byzantine No.3. by Owen Jones - giclee print

Byzantine No.3. Owen Jones (1809–74). The Grammar of

Ornament,1856 ©Victoria and Albert Museum, London

 

Created exclusively for the V&A.

 

Giclee printed for the V&A in Sussex on a traditionally made paper sourced from a UK paper mill. This print is supplied flat, in a board-backed cello bag.

 

Owen Jones was a versatile architect and designer, and one of the most influential design theorists of the 19th century. Through his work at the 1851 Great Exhibition, he was also a key figure in the foundation of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Two hundred years after his birth, Jones's theories on flat patterning and ornament continue to resonate. His bold theories on the use of colour, geometry and abstraction formed the basis for Jones's seminal publication, 'The Grammar of Ornament', a design sourcebook that is still in print today. First published in 1856, this ground breaking design manual gathered together the finest examples of ornament from a wide variety of cultures and historical period. He illustrated his design propositions by drawing on a diverse range of source material including metalwork, textiles, ceramics, manuscripts and woodwork.  Jones wished to liberate these examples of ornament from their original context and felt strongly that designers should not simply copy designs, but instead try to understand the underlying principles held within them.