Camel Train - Eastcheap, London, UK
N 51° 30.633 W 000° 05.035
30U E 702346 N 5710634
This camel train relief is above the entrance to a former bank building and before that a tea and coffee importers at the corner of Eastcheap with Lovat Lane.
Waymark Code: WMJBQE
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/26/2013
Views: 3
This building was, initially, the home of Peek Bros a tea and coffee
importer.
The carving is into Portland stone that is curved through ninety degrees. The
camel train, that is estimeated to be a quarter life-size, is moving from right
to left. There are three camels in the train and a Bedouin leading them.
The camels are all loaded with goods. The first and third seem to be carrying
bags and the middle one is carrying bales.
The
Ornamental Passions website tells us:
The entire south side of Eastcheap was demolished in
1882 to allow the Metropolitan Line to be excavated, and in 1883 the firm of
Peek Bros, Tea and Coffee Importers, built a grand new office at No 20 with
a circular corner tower. To liven the tower up, they got William Theed the
Younger to carve an alto relievo depiction of their coffee being brought
across the sands of Araby on the backs of three camels led by a Bedouin in
his flowing robes. It's straight out of Desert Song.
Theed loved exotic subjects, having done the Africa section on the Albert
Memorial and a line of horses for Buckingham Palace.
Why is it so deadly serious but chuckle-out-loud funny at the same time? I
think it is the way the driver is striding so purposefully with his robes
flowing out behind, such is his determination to reach Eastcheap before the
Peek brothers (Fred and Jim) get fed up with waiting and go to the pub.