Osterley - Brown

In 1562 Sir Thomas Gresham, financial adviser to Elizabeth l, created “a fair and stately building of brick” at Osterley.  Later in 1761, the founders of Child’s Bank commissioned the fashionable Scottish architect Robert Adam to transform Gresham’s crumbling mansion into an elegant neo-classical villa. This was the Child’s house in the country, created to entertain and impress their friends. Today, Osterley is set in a 350-acre oasis in the heart of urban London, and is one of the country’s most complete examples of Adam’s work, including superb ceilings, carpets and furniture. The Osterley handblock is a romantic urn design of the 18th Century.  Due to its fine detail, subtle coloration and classical proportions, it is considered one of the most elegant designs in the line, similar to those used in an Adams interior. It is hand blocked using a set of 56 blocks engraved in 1935 and 14 block colours including the blotch.