Owen Jones (1809–1874)
Owen Jones was born in London, England on 15 February 1809. From 1825 to c.1829 he was articled to the architect Lewis Vulliamy (1791–1871) and from1829 began studying architecture at the Royal Academy Schools in London. Although he usually identified himself as an architect it was as an ornamental designer that Jones is better known. Notable among his architectural projects was St James's Hall, between Regent Street and Piccadilly in London (completed in 1858) which was for many years the principal venue for concerts in London; Jones was appointed superintendent of works for the 1851 Great Exhibition and took an active part in decorating and arranging the Crystal Palace building. He also supervised the layout and decoration of the building following its relocation to the London suburb of Sydenham; and designed the interior of the Crystal Palace Bazaar on Oxford Street, London (completed in 1858 and demolished in 1905); and F.
His work as a decorative designer included tiles for Blashfield, Minton, and Maw; wallpapers for Townsend & Parker and Jeffrey & Co.; woven textiles for Warner and Sillet & Co.; the backs of playing cards for Thomas De La Rue and Lawrence & Cohen; silks for Benjamin Warner; packaging and a range of paper products for De La Rue; as well as metalwork; mosaics; and furniture (examples of which are in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London). However, it is the as the compiler and author of a number of visual reference books, particularly Plans, Elevations, Sections and Details of the Alhambra (1842-45), one of the most influential publications on Islamic architecture, and The Grammar of Ornament in which he expounded his theories on colour and ornamentation, that he is best known. The Grammar of Ornament is considered a design classic and has remained in print since its first publication in 1856.
Jones was awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects' Gold Medal in 1857 and medals at the international exhibitions in Paris in 1867 and Vienna in 1873. He died in London, on 19 April 1874.
Text source: Arts + Architecture Profiles from Art History Research net (AHRnet) https://www.arthistoryresearch.net/
