Norman Wilkinson CBE PRI Furniture
British, 1878-1971
Born in Cambridge in 1898 and educated at Southsea School of Art, Norman Wilkinson is known for his graphic art, specifically his British Railway poster images, and also for something quite incredible; Wilkinson revolutionized the art of naval camouflage. Having been assigned to submarine patrols in Dardanelles, Gallipoli, and Gibraltar during WWI as a member of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, Wilkinson was deeply troubled by the unprecedented success the German submarine fleet had torpedoing British ships. He hoped to find a solution to this gaping vulnerability, and in a lightning bolt moment, he had an epiphany that would change everything. Wilkinson says in his autobiography, A Brush With Life (Seeley, 1969), that he realized a ship could be painted to hide its shape against the sea and sky. In his own words, Wilkinson states that the hull of a ship could be camouflaged "not for low visibility, but in such a way as to break up her form and thus confuse a submarine officer as to the course on which she was heading." After some preliminary testing, the theory Wilkinson called "dazzle camouflage" was accepted by British Admiralty and Wilkinson was placed in charge of the naval camouflage unit. The unit, which was headquartered in the basement of the Royal Academy of Arts, consisted of Wilkinson and about two dozen "camoufleurs;" they were artists, students, model makers and consultants, including a zoologist. The dazzle schemes were tested on models and then distributed to artists who were stationed at the docks, where the ships would be painted. At the end of the war Wilkinson was formally declared the inventor of dazzle camouflage and awarded for his contribution.
Wilkinson went on to enjoy a long and celebrated career as a painter of maritime scenes, naval vessels, and warships. He served as the president of the Royal Institute of Painter in Water Colours (RI) from 1936 until 1963 (elected member in 1906); he was elected Honourable Marine Painter to the Royal Yacht Squadron in 1919, and he was a member of the Royal Society of British Artists, the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, the Royal Society of Marine Artists, and the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour. In 1918 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), and a Commander of the Order (CBE) in 1948. In January 1920 he was appointed knight (chevalier) of the Belgian Order of the Crown.
Among many notable points of interest regarding Wilkinson's career is that his painting Plymouth Harbour, which was commissioned by Cunard White Star Lines for the first class smoking room of the RMS Titanic, was lost at sea when it perished with the ship. Wilkinson had also created a comparable painting entitled The Approach to the New World, for the Titanic's sister ship, the RMS Olympic. This work may be seen in the 1958 film A Night to Remember in scenes aboard the Titanic, where is served as the stand-in for Plymouth Harbor.(Biography provided by Rob Zanger Rare Books LLC)
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Creator: Norman Wilkinson CBE PRI
Original Vintage Poster War Savings Are Warships Norman Wilkinson WWII Navy Sea
By Norman Wilkinson
Located in London, GB
Original vintage World War Two home front poster issued to encourage people to buy war savings bonds and help win the war. Dramatic artwork by the notable British artist and illustra...
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1940s British Vintage Norman Wilkinson CBE PRI Furniture
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Original Vintage WWII Poster War Savings Are Warships Norman Wilkinson Navy Art
By Norman Wilkinson
Located in London, GB
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1940s British Vintage Norman Wilkinson CBE PRI Furniture
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Original Vintage Poster Dunkeld Cathedral River Tay LMS LNER Railway Travel Art
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Original vintage travel poster issued by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway LMS and London North Eastern Railway LNER - Dunkeld Cathedral River Tay It's quicker by rail - featu...
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1930s British Vintage Norman Wilkinson CBE PRI Furniture
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Norman Wilkinson Cbe Pri furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Norman Wilkinson CBE PRI furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of paper and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Norman Wilkinson CBE PRI furniture, although beige editions of this piece are particularly popular. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Jack Merriott, John Pasche, and Elijah Albert Cox. Prices for Norman Wilkinson CBE PRI furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,207 and can go as high as $4,081, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,688.