Catalogue of the papers of Henry Wallis, 1846-1952

Bodleian Library, University of Oxford

C. Parker

©2002

Department of Special Collections and Western Manuscripts
Bodleian Library
Broad Street
Oxford
OX1 3BG
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1865 277152
Fax: +44 (0) 1865 277187
Enquiries.SC@bodley.ox.ac.uk
http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/scwmss/

Papers of Henry Wallis and his son, Harold Wallis, 1846-1952

Abstract:
Letters to Henry Wallis (1830-1916), painter, 1856-1915, letters to his son, Harold Wallis, 1884-1918 and miscellaneous papers of both, 1846-1952.

Shelfmarks: MSS. Eng. c. 7039-41, c. 7049-51, Eng. e. 3394-6, e. 3401

Extent: 10 shelfmarks

Biographical History

Henry Wallis (1830-1916) was an artist, ceramics expert and collector. He achieved acclaim as a painter with the exhibition of his portrait 'The Death of Chatterton' at the Royal Academy in 1856, and followed up his success with 'The Stonebreaker', which was exhibited in 1858. Although he continued to paint and exhibit, he became increasingly interested in archaeology and ceramics. He travelled extensively and became an authority on Persian, Egyptian, Greek and Byzantine ceramics. He wrote and illustrated twenty volumes on ceramics during the period 1885-1899. He never married but he did have a son, Harold ('Felix'), with his lover Mary Meredith. For further details see Dictionary of National Biography and Timothy Wilson's article, 'A Victorian artist as ceramic collector: the letters of Henry Wallis', parts 1-2, Journal of the History of Collections, 14, no.1 (2002) pp.139-159 and no.2 (2002) pp.231-269.

Scope and Content

The collection contains letters to Henry Wallis from artists, art collectors and museum curators, relating to the art world in England and the collection of fine ceramics, and a large series of letters from Henry Wallis to his son, Harold, written mostly from abroad, containing descriptions of his travels and archaeological finds.

Arrangement

The papers are arranged in two series: (A) papers of Henry Wallis, and (B) papers of his son, Harold 'Felix' Wallis.

Separated Material

Ten photographs of unidentified people, are MS. Photogr. 150, fols. 29-38.

Related Material

See catalogue of the sketch-books of Henry Wallis, 1869-1910.

Acquisition

Bought Bonhams, 13 Mar. 2002, lot 975.

Preferred Form of Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Library [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MS. Eng. c. 7039, fols. 1-2].

Personal names (NCA Rules)

Wallis | Harold | 1858-1933 | son of Henry Wallis and Mary Meredith | known as Felix
Wallis | Henry | 1830-1916 | painter

Subjects (LCSH)

Art, Victorian -- England
Majolica, Italian
Pottery, Egyptian
Pottery, Islamic
Pottery, Persian

A   Papers of Henry Wallis, 1846-1952

A.1   Letters to Henry Wallis, 1856-1915

Shelfmarks: MSS. Eng. c. 7039-41

Arrangement: The letters to Henry Wallis have been arranged alphabetically by correspondent, without reference to subject. There are two alphabetical sequences of letters. The first sequence contains letters which are fasciculed and the second sequence contains loose letters.

Letters to Henry Wallis from various correspondents, 1856-1912
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. c. 7039
Extent: 119 leaves

Comprises letters from:


Letters to Henry Wallis from various correspondents, A-H, in English, French and Italian, 1856-1915
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. c. 7040
Extent: 281 leaves

The letters are from friends, fellow artists, ceramic collectors and museums. They include letters from


Letters to Henry Wallis from various correspondents, J-Z, in English, French, German and Italian, 1866-1915
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. c. 7041
Extent: 310 leaves

The letters are from friends, fellow artists, ceramic collectors and museum curators. They include letters from

A.2   Miscellaneous papers of Henry Wallis, 1846-1952

Shelfmarks: MSS. Eng. c. 7051, e. 3394-6, e. 3401

Arrangement: Arranged chronologically.

Goldsmith. An Almanack (London, 1846), with sketches on fols. 1v, 4, 14, 24v, 52-3 and notes on fols. 19, 21, 24
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3394
Extent: 53 leaves
Binding: Maroon leather with leather clasp

Passport for Henry Wallis and his son, issued 15 Dec. 1860 and stamped at Boulogne, 17 Dec. 1860
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3395
Extent: 1 leaf
Binding: Black morocco, stamp inside front cover 'Edward Stanford Manufacturer 6 Charing Cross'

Wallet containing visiting cards and business cards, many with pencilled additions by Henry Wallis, late 19th cent.
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3396
Extent: 48 leaves
Binding: Cream cloth-covered wallet

Notes, letters and miscellaneous papers, 1858-1952
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. c. 7051/1-3
Extent: 89 leaves, ii + 82 pages and (item 3) 32 pages

Includes

Separated Material: A photograph of Professor Menzel and a photograph of an unidentified man and woman, removed from MS. Eng. c. 7051/1, are MS. Photogr. c. 150, fols. 39-40.

Notebook containing instructions for lace and crochet work, inscribed on fol. 1 'Miss Abbott', 19th cent.
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. e. 3401
Extent: 12 leaves
Binding: Quarter dark-blue leather, marbled paper boards

B   Papers of Harold Wallis, 1885-1918

Shelfmarks: MS. Eng. c. 7049-50

Arrangement: Arranged chronologically.

Letters from his father, Henry Wallis, 1885-95
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. c. 7049
Extent: 145 leaves

These letters are addressed to 'Felix', which was Henry's name for his son. They are written mostly from various places abroad, including Cairo, Luxor, Alexandria, Assouan, Athens, Sicily, Naples, Trieste, Paris and Marseilles. They contain descriptions of the places he visited and items he collected. They also contain instructions relating to his house and business interests in England.


Letters from his father, Henry Wallis and others, and miscellaneous papers, 1895-1918, n.d.
Shelfmark: MS. Eng. c. 7050
Extent: 194 leaves

Includes

Transformation from XML to HTML by Lawrence Mielniczuk
30 April 2003