Beschreibung:

A fine illuminated testimonial by Alfred Nutt for retiring Eton College headmaster Edmond Warre (1884-1905), 1906, illumination on white card with watercolour views of Eton College from the Thames, the clocktower, and royal coat-of-arms, plus a small vignette of Christ, with gold illumination and decoration throughout, the testimonial laid into the door of a heavy Victorian gothic oak case carved with the arms of Eton College, elaborate four cast brass hinges and catch, wall hanging eyelets, some minor moulding missing, 57 cm high x 58 cm wide x 10 cm deep, the body of the case containing an album of over 1000 clipped signatures of the subscribers, with the remaining names for those signatures not to hand and of those deceased written calligraphically to final three pages, the signatures window-mounted back-to-back on 10 thick card leaves, all edges gilt, original calf-backed moir�e silk over boards with watercolour and gilt arms, crest and motto of Eton College to upper cover, some marginal browning and slight fraying, oblong large 4to The text reads: 'The undersigned old Etonians desire to record their gratitude and affection towards yourself, and their admiration for your career as man and boy. At Eton Newcastle scholar and winner of the Pulling, then at Oxford, Scholar of Balliol, Fellow of All Souls, President of the University Boat Club and Founder of the Volunteer Corps', again at Eton Assistant Master for twenty-four and Headmaster for twenty-one years, you have given your school the utmost you could give her - all the powers of your mind, all the vigour of your manhood. While taking the foremost part in many great and needful changes, you have left the ancient spirit of the place unchanged. By force of character, self devotion and sound judgment, by manliness and sincerity you have won respect of men and the love of boys. These words, and the gifts which accompany them, are but the inadequate expression of feelings which fill the hearts of many thousand Etonians in all parts of the world, to whom the name of Edmond Warre recalls whatever is best and noblest in their well-loved school'. Edmond Warre CBE CVO (1837-1920) English rower and headmaster of Eton College, whose association with Eton lasted some 45 years, took an active interest in sports. The testimonial is recorded in Eton College Chronicle, no. 1163, Thursday, 6 December 1906, page 1 (photocopy supplied). In addition to this testimonial a portrait by John Singer Sargent was commissioned to hang in the Memorial Hall; and a Lady's Plate was also commissioned. (1)