About the 1936 Exhibition Collection
The British School at Athens celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1936 with a large public exhibition at Burlington House at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. The exhibition, British Archaeological Discoveries in Greece and Crete 1886-1936, consisted of a special display of Minoan culture related to the discoveries at Knossos by Sir Arthur Evans as well as the excavations of the School including: Phylakopi, Kamares Cave, Palaikastro, Mycenae, Sparta, Perachora, Thessaly, Macedonia, Lesbos, Cyprus, Ithaca, and Megalopolis (Arcadia). It also included displays of Travels and Studies in Greece and Asia Minor, the Genose in the Levant, Monasteries in Athos, Byzantine Music, Byzantine Architecture and Decorative Arts, Greek Island Embroideries, Special Studies of Greek Pottery and Sculpture, Restoration of Ancient Monuments, Studies of Modern Greek Life and the School buildings and officers.
Since original ancient artifacts could not be transported to the exhibition in London, the displays consisted of replicas of ancient artifacts, modern ethnographic artifacts and illustrative panels with original watercolour drawings, many of which were done by Émile Gilliéron and Piet de Jong, and photographs.
The 1936 Exhibition Collection contains the surviving panels with original artwork from this exhibition.
An ink illustration of a rectangular plaque with a man in the middle, each harm holding on to the back of the neck of a winged beast. Some sections, shown by dotted lines, are recreated and not part of the surviving object. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Ivory plaques: 700-600 B.C."
An ink illustration of a plaque in the shape of a bird. The beak and part of the right wing are missing, and are imagined with dotted lines. Something has been whited out in the lower right corner. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Plaques for Fibulae (a,b) in the form of eagles: before 700 B.C."
An ink illustration of a plaque in the shape of a double-headed bird. The left hand beak and part of head, the right hand beak, and the tip of the left wing are missing, and are imagined with dotted lines. Something has been whited out in the lower right corner. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Plaques for Fibulae (a,b) in the form of eagles: before 700 B.C."
An ink illustration of the back of the plaque in the shape of a double-headed bird (1936/01/05/18/02), showing the placement of a vertical pin. The beaks and tip of one wing are missing, and are imagined with dotted lines. Something has been whited out in the lower right corner. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Plaques for Fibulae (a,b) in the form of eagles: before 700 B.C."
An ink illustration of a 3D object in the shape of a bird's head with an open beak on top of a flat base. The number 6 is written by the artist to the left behind the head. Erased writing partly visible in upper left corner. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Griffin's head, originally attached to some object."
An ink illustration of a relief showing two people on a chariot drawn by two horses, facing right. The lower left corner, lower edge, and tip of the upper right corner are missing, and reconstructed with dotted lines. There are regular circular holes across the plaque. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Plaque with relief of chariot and horses; of bone, unfinished, after 600 B.C."
An ink illustration of a 3D object shaped like a sphinx, drawn from the rear left. The feet and part of the wings are missing, and are reconstructed with dotted lines. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Sphinx: compare originals in Case B."
An ink illustration of a relief showing winged horses pulling a chariot, facing left. Several parts, including the lower left corner and much of the right hand side, are missing and reconstructed with dotted lines. The right edge has not been reconstructed. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Chariot drawn by winged horses in relief; below them is a dog; after 600 B.C."
An ink illustration of a relief of a male lion, lying down. Part of the tail is missing and reconstructed with dotted lines. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Lion, in relief, of bone."
An ink illustration of various fragments of flutes. The top three rows show the same three fragments; first from the top, then as if cut in half to show the inside, and third reconstructed: the rightmost section is broken, and dotted lines show how it is imagined to have continued. The second of these three rows has the number 1 written on the very left, with lines pointed to the rows, and 1a, 1b, and 1c written below the fragments. The remaining two rows show five other fragments, labelled 2-6; those labelled 2 and 4 have writing on them. 3 is shown from the end (3a) and from the side (3b). 6 is shown from the outside (6a) and as though cut in half (6b). The original description in the catalogue reads: "Fragments of bone flutes."
An ink illustration of a naked standing figurine,at a 3/4 view from the back right. There are two horizontal lines on the left of the image, which correspond to the two on the right of that in 1936/01/05/19/04: it is likely that these were once a single item. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Miscellaneous small ivory carvings."
Two ink illustrations, labelled a and b. a, on the left, shows a four-sided seal, with two visible faces which correspond to d and e of 1936/01/05/19/03. b, on the right, shows an imprint one face of this seal: a sitting beast with wings, a lion's body and a dog-like head. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Miscellaneous small ivory carvings: the following are noteworthy:- Ivory four-sided seal (a-e). These were mounted as pendants by the hole at the top: more often in bone than in ivory; about 700 B.C."
Three ink illustrations, labelled c-e, showing imprints of faces of the seal marked a of 1936/01/05/19/02. c, on the left, shows a bird with a long plume on its head, and a snake. d, in the centre, shows a beast with a lion's body, a rooster;s head, and a wing (?). e, on the right, show a bird from the front, with both wings partly spread. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Miscellaneous small ivory carvings: the following are noteworthy:- Ivory four-sided seal (a-e). These were mounted as pendants by the hole at the top: more often in bone than in ivory; about 700 B.C."
An ink illustration of a naked male standing figurine, viewed from the front. There are two horizontal lines on the right of the image, which correspond to the two on the left of that in 1936/01/05/19/01: it is likely that these were once a single item. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Miscellaneous small ivory carvings."
An ink illustration of a seated female figurine at a 3/4 view of the front right. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Miscellaneous small ivory carvings."
An ink illustration of a naked standing figurine at a 3/4 view from the back right. There are no feet. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Miscellaneous small ivory carvings."
An ink illustration of a relief of a scorpion (?) inside a square. Small sections from the centre of the top and left edges are missing. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Miscellaneous small ivory carvings."
An ink illustration of a relief of a griffin inside a circle with a patterned border. Part of the lower right is missing; the inside of the border has been reconstructed with a dotted line. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Miscellaneous small ivory carvings."
An ink illustration of a relief of a deer (?) inside a circle. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Miscellaneous small ivory carvings."
An ink illustration of a naked male standing figurine, viewed from the front. There are no feet. It is likely that this is the same figure as in 1936/01/05/19/06.The original description in the catalogue reads: "Miscellaneous small ivory carvings."
An ink illustration of a relief of a seated man with a large head, facing left. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Miscellaneous small ivory carvings."
An ink illustration of a lioness lying down, biting onto a calf's neck. Beside this is a human, kneeling on one knee, stabbing the lioness' neck. The human figure's head is missing, and has been reconstructed using dotted lines. The corner of the base in front of the lioness' head has also been reconstructed using dotted lines. Beneath the image is inked "2a", from a previous publication. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Lioness devouring a calf and stabbed by a man: this is unique; with a few other larger animals, it belongs to 650-600 B.C."
An ink illustration of a rectangular plaque showing a winged goddess with a bird in one hand and a cat-like animal in the other. The bottom of the dress, feet, and several sections of the decorated border are missing; the outlines of these have been reconstructed with dashed lines. Above and below the image part of a pin can be seen, which is illustrated separated to the right. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Winged Orthia goddess with animals: from an early ivory brooch-plate."
An ink illustration of a lioness lying down, biting onto a calf's neck. This is the same item as 1936/01/05/20/01, shown from the side so the human figure is not visible. Both the visible corners are missing and have been reconstructed with dotted lines. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Lioness devouring a calf and stabbed by a man: this is unique; with a few other larger animals, it belongs to 650-600 B.C."
An ink illustration of a rectangular relief of a deer facing right. It has antlers, although they could be leaves. The lower left corner is missing; it has not been reconstructed. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Designs on bases of couchant animals, like (b): 600-500 B.C.
An ink illustration of a rectangular relief of a winged beast, facing right. Several sections of the border, the neck, the tail, and the legs are missing and reconstructed with dotted lines. The original description in the catalogue reads: " Designs on bases of couchant animals, like (b): 600-500 B.C.”
An ink illustration of a rectangular relief of a bird with both wings particularly unfolded. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Designs on bases of couchant animals, like (b): 600-500 B.C.”
An ink illustration of a lioness lying down, eating an animal of which the body and cloven back hoof can be seen. The front corner where the head of the prey animal would be is missing; the edge has been reconstructed with a dotted line. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Couchant beast devouring its prey."
An ink illustration of a square relief with a man on horseback with a spear and shield, facing left. Part of the edges are damaged or missing, and have not been reconstructed. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Brooch-plate: armed horseman."
An ink illustration of half of an ivory comb, depicting two sphinxes facing each other. The comb is broken after the head and front leg of the right hand sphinx. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Ivory combs: date from c. 750 to 500 B.C."
Ink illustrations of the front and back of an ivory comb. The front depicts a Pegasus, while the back has geometric patterns. The teeth are all broken apart from the thicker ones at the ends; on the top (front) image, the original length of the teeth is shown with a dashed line. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Ivory combs: date from c. 750 to 500 B.C."
An ink illustration of an ivory comb depicting a man on a horse. The left and right corners of the body of the comb are missing, as are most of the teeth. The shape of the body of the comb has been reconstructed with dashed lines. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Ivory combs: date from c. 750 to 500 B.C."
An ink illustration of an ivory comb depicting two sphinxes facing each other. The left and right corners of the body of the comb are missing, as are most of the teeth. The shape of the body of the comb has been reconstructed with dashed lines. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Ivory combs: date from c. 750 to 500 B.C."
An ink illustration of an ivory comb depicting two horses facing each other, and the body of a helmeted man on the floor. The left and right corners of the body of the comb are missing, as are most of the teeth. The shape of the body of the comb has been reconstructed with dashed lines. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Ivory combs: date from c. 750 to 500 B.C."
An ink illustration of an object in the shape of a head of a duck. The letter e is inked to the lower right, from a previous publication. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Ivory combs: date from c. 750 to 500 B.C.": there is no mention of this object.
An ink illustration of a lion catching a cow. The head of the cow and tail of the lion have been reconstructed with dotted lines. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Ivory combs: date from c. 750 to 500 B.C.": there is no mention of this object.
An ink illustration of a plaque depicting a centaur in the form of a complete man with a horse's back. The original description in the catalogue reads: "Ivory combs: date from c. 750 to 500 B.C.": there is no mention of this object.
The original description in the catalogue reads: "Dedication of a Sickle (a) by Philonikos, the winner in a musical contest Early in the 1st century A.D."
The original description in the catalogue reads: "Dedication of Five Sickles: early 4th century B.C."
The original description in the catalogue reads: "Dedication slab with the iron sickle still in place: set up by Leontios, victor in a musical contest."
The original description in the catalogue reads: "Inscribed base of a statue of a victor (bomonikes) in the Contest of Endurance: it was perhaps accompanied by the boy's sickles and dedication-slab: not much before 200 A.D."
The original description in the catalogue reads: "Archaic dedications to 'Orthia' (Orthasia), painted on the edge of a plate; not later than 600 B.C."
The original description in the catalogue reads: "Archaic dedications to 'Orthia' (Orthasia), painted on the edge of a plate; not later than 600 B.C."
The original description in the catalogue reads: "Bronze Figure of a Trumpeter, found at the temple of Athena of the Brazen House (Chalkioikos) on the Acropolis of Sparta: height about five inches; c. 450 B.C."
The original description in the catalogue reads: "Bronze Figure of Athena Promachos, from the Acropolis of Sparta: 500-400 B.C."
The original description in the catalogue reads: "Bronze Figure of a Trumpeter, found at the temple of Athena of the Brazen House (Chalkioikos) on the Acropolis of Sparta: height about five inches; c. 450 B.C."
The original description in the catalogue reads: "Archaic Bronze Figure of a Goddess, found at the Menelaion sanctuary, on the far side of the river Eurotas. From the circumstances of its discovery it cannot be later than 600 B.C. and might be earlier than 700 B.C."
The original description in the catalogue reads: "Archaic Bronze Figure of a Goddess, found at the Menelaion sanctuary, on the far side of the river Eurotas. From the circumstances of its discovery it cannot be later than 600 B.C. and might be earlier than 700 B.C."
The original description in the catalogue reads: "Archaic Bronze Figure of a Goddess, found at the Menelaion sanctuary, on the far side of the river Eurotas. From the circumstances of its discovery it cannot be later than 600 B.C. and might be earlier than 700 B.C."
The original description in the catalogue reads: "Small Bronzes from the Orthia Sanctuary; for the most part earlier than 600 B.C.: 165, brooches."