Catalogue Number
NMLH.1993.703
Object Name
Banner
Title
'The Typographical Association. Preston Branch. Lux e tenbrisars artium servatrix.'
Place
Preston Lancashire UK
People
Typographical Association
Date
Around 1870s
Description
Image description:
Black portrait banner surrounded by a border frill of very fine silk. Both sides feature a painted image surrounded by gold stars.
Front
The central image is painted onto a cloud shaped background and shows two seated women. The woman on the left is seated on a stack of books, holding a piece of paper and a quill representing Knowledge. The woman on the left is seated on a parcel holding a drawstring purse and the symbol of the Greek god Hermes (a short-winged staff intertwined with two snakes) representing Messenger. In the centre of the two women is an image of two figures alongside a dog kneeling on grass in front of a temple like structure looking upwards bordered with a pink block oval with the text âLUX E TENEBRISâ. On the top of the oval is a gold oil lamp with the flame lit and around the bottom is laurel foliage. Beneath is the text âARS ARTIUM SERVATRIXâ in gold lettering. Text on red scrolls above and below the cental image reads âTHE TYPOGRAPHICAL ASSOCIATION PRESTON BRANCHâ.
Reverse
The central image is painted onto a cloud shaped background and shows four men gathered in front of a printing press. The central man dressed in red is seated with a piece of paper in his hand, the other men are stood and looking on. There are other printed sheets and books around the scene. Text on red scrolls above and below the image reads âKNOWLEGDE IS POWERâ and âLETTERPRESS PRINTERS.â.
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This banner was created for the Preston Branch of the Typographical Association, which was founded in 1849 to represent those involved in printing trades, and is known to have been carried in processions during the 1882 Preston Guild Year (a celebration commemorating Preston gaining Royal Charter in 1179). One side of the banner shows William Caxton, who is believed to have first introduced the printing press to England, examining a printed page with his apprentices. On the other side are two seated women who represent Knowledge and the Messenger.
The banner was renovated, probably for the 1952 Preston Guild Year, drastically changing its appearance. The original natural cream linen ground was painted dark blue and dotted with gold stars, and the original boarder was replaced with the fine silk frill. This banner was conserved in PHM's Textile Conservation Studio in 2011.
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