Morel-Ladeuil/Elkington & Co. Pilgrim’s Progress Shield, 1878:
Designed by Leonard Morel-Ladeuil (1820-1888), made by Elkington & Co. An electrotype silver- and gold-gilt iron shield, the central relief depicts a scene from John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian Battling Apollyon, with two tableaux of heaven above, and two of hell below. The bottom of the center motif is inscribed: “Morel-Ladeuil, inv. fecit 1878” and “Elkington & Co.” To the back, an embossed metal label with Queen Victoria’s device, and “Department of Science & Art, Elkington.” 34 3/4″ x 25 1/2″. Condition: wear and loss to gilt. Note: Elkington & Co. of Birmingham created these electrotype shields as copies, in the manner of the Milton Shield, produced by M. Morel-Ladeuil, which wasshown at the Paris Exhibition in 1867. They were intended to be used by artists, artisans, and students as design aids in the government schools of design under the Department of Science & Art. (See “The Milton Shield” at theV & A collections.vam.ac.uk.)
