ZSL Library and Archives team regularly receive intriguing emails, one recent email was particularly interesting and led to me to receive an unusual package of ‘zoophemera’ (zoo ephemera) in the post - a selection of 1930s monkey and bird tiles, each ceramic tile is unique.
We already had 42 surviving examples of monkey tiles in our collection but were under the impression that there were no surviving bird tiles apart from four trial tiles in the ownership of Walter Vivien Cole’s family. Imagine my excitement and delight when Richard Grantham contacted me kindly offering to donate ten monkey tiles and three bird tiles! He had received them from his uncle Thomas Edwin Grantham (1910-1993) who had been Head Keeper in the Small Carnivore House in the 1950s/60s.
In the 1930s several of ZSL London Zoo’s animal houses were tiled as part of the Zoo’s renewal of signage. Julian Huxley, Secretary of ZSL 1935-42, commissioned the tiles, they were thought to be ideal for zoo use as they could be easily washed down keeping the animals houses clean.
Huxley was keen to link animals and art. He was married to Juliette Huxley who had studied art at the Central School of Art in London where she had been a student of sculptor, John Skeaping RA (1901-80). With the help of the Huxleys, Skeaping organised art classes at ZSL London Zoo. Skeaping and his students painted the tiles.
Each tile is unique, depicting a particular species, hand lettered with the common name and where the animal is found. They measure 4 x 4 inches. Most of the monkey tiles are signed with a letter ‘S’ so they are probably by John Skeaping himself. Others received as part of this donation are signed ‘CES’.
Walter Vivien Cole (1913-1999) was one of Skeaping’s students at the Central School of Art and I had thought that he was the artist for the bird tiles. However the three bird tiles we received as a donation from Richard Grantham are signed ‘S’ so we are assuming these are also by Skeaping.
If you know more about these tiles or the names of the other artists, please do contact us.
The tiles seem to have been 4 inch blanks and a small gas kiln in an office basement was used to fire the decoration.
My thanks to Richard Grantham for his donation of the tiles to our collection. Also thanks to the Tiles and Architectural Ceramics Society which published an article about the tiles in the magazine Glazed Expressions, 1992, Winter, No. 25.
ZSL Prince Philip Zoological Library and Archives is a wonderful and unique collection and information resource about animals and their conservation. Information is vitally important in conservation.
ZSL's purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Collections & resources in ZSL's Library & Archives support ZSL's purpose.
Our collections can be explored and discovered in a variety of ways –
- Come in and browse
- Use our online catalogue
- Read our monthly blog highlighting items in our collections
- Follow us on Twitter @ZSLLibrary
Select a blog
Our people are our greatest asset and we realise our vision for a world where wildlife thrives through their ideas, skills and passion. An inspired, informed and empowered community of people work, study and volunteer together at ZSL.
At ZSL, a key area of our work is the employment of Nature-based Solutions – an approach which both adapt to and mitigates the impacts of climate change. These Solutions, which include habitat protection and restoration, are low-cost yet high-impact, and provide multiple benefits to people and wildlife. We ensure that biodiversity recovery is at the heart of nature-based solutions.
A blog for lovers of ZSL London Zoo, bringing you extraordinary animal facts and exclusive access to the world's oldest scientific zoo.
Do you love wildlife? Discover more about our amazing animals at the UK's biggest zoo!
We're working around the world to conserve animals and their habitats, find out more about our latest achievements.
From the field to the lab, catch up with the scientists on the cutting edge of conservation biology at ZSL’s Institute of Zoology.
A day in Discovery and Learning at ZSL is never dull! The team tell us all about the exciting sessions for school children, as well as work further afield.
Every month, one of the pieces held in ZSL’s Library and at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo will feature here as Artefact of the Month.
Read testimonials from our Members and extracts from ZSL's award winning members' magazine, Wild About.
ZSL works across Asia, from the famous national parks of Nepal to marine protected areas in the Philippines. Read the latest updates on our conservation.
An Open Access journal for research at the interface of remote sensing, ecology and conservation.
