Design for Ornamental Glass, for 2 Prate Street, Camden Town, London 1870

This is an anonymous design for ornamental glass, intended for a building at 2 Prate Street, Camden Town, London. The drawing offers a glimpse into the visual culture of a specific time and place, reflecting the architectural tastes and decorative trends of London. What stories do buildings tell, and how are class structures physically embedded into the ornamentation of the home? The design reflects a desire for elegance and refinement. The rigid grid imposed onto the detailed sketch might speak to the burgeoning industrialization of London. The design could be mass-produced. The glass, intended to look like 'black on roller glass' might, like the architecture of the home, reflect a patriarchal desire to appear strong. Designs like these were crucial in shaping the identities and experiences of those who inhabited these spaces.