FDA-A.411-2014
Parts
Object number
FDA-A.411-2014
Object type
Identification
Title
Psychrolout [Psychrolutes] Club Mirror
Description
Mirror in original frame
Comments
The inscriptions on this mirror indicate that it is connected to the Society of Philolutes and Psychrolutes. This society is explained in 'Annals of an Eton House, with Some Notes on the Evans Family':
'The Society of Philolutes and Psychrolutes (lovers of bathing, and of bathing in cold water) was an Eton Society founded in 1828. Sir Launcelot Shadwell was its first President, and among its supporters were T.R.H. the Prince Consort and George, Duke of Cambridge. G. A. Selwyn and William Evans were its leading spirits. A fine was levied against Psychrolutes who failed to bathe on more than seven days in the year. Several elaborately kept volumes of Proceedings have been entrusted to the writer by Canon W. Selwyn and the Evans family, but there is no space here to deal with these. The Society continued to exist for many years, but appears, from a note by William Evans, to have lost much of its vitality when G. A. Selwyn left England. The principal volume was presented by Evans to John R. Selwyn on his leaving Eton in July, 1862, and is now the property of Canon Selwyn.'
[Source: Gambier-Parry, Ernest, 'Annals of an Eton House, with Some Notes on the Evans Family', 1907, p.31]
'The Society of Philolutes and Psychrolutes (lovers of bathing, and of bathing in cold water) was an Eton Society founded in 1828. Sir Launcelot Shadwell was its first President, and among its supporters were T.R.H. the Prince Consort and George, Duke of Cambridge. G. A. Selwyn and William Evans were its leading spirits. A fine was levied against Psychrolutes who failed to bathe on more than seven days in the year. Several elaborately kept volumes of Proceedings have been entrusted to the writer by Canon W. Selwyn and the Evans family, but there is no space here to deal with these. The Society continued to exist for many years, but appears, from a note by William Evans, to have lost much of its vitality when G. A. Selwyn left England. The principal volume was presented by Evans to John R. Selwyn on his leaving Eton in July, 1862, and is now the property of Canon Selwyn.'
[Source: Gambier-Parry, Ernest, 'Annals of an Eton House, with Some Notes on the Evans Family', 1907, p.31]
Other number
20090000015002
MEL.617-2010
MEL.617-2010
Description
Dimensions
length (actual size): 664mm
width (actual size): 400mm
width (actual size): 400mm
Inscription
Inscription (upper part) 'Philolouts: Bathers during the Summer only. / Psychrolouts : Bathers in the cold, both winter & summer. / hence the double monogram. / Monogram painted by / Mr. Evans, RA, Mag.Eton.1862 / Mag Eton.1877 '
Lower part 'Hieroglyphic of the Psychrolout Club / founded by Selwyn Bp. of New Zealand / (Robt. Liddell) R. L. 1874 / The true meaning of the monogram is that the subscribers to / the Bathing place at Windsor Weir were Philiolouts who / bathed in warm weather only, and Psykrolouts / who bathed in cold also. (W. A. Adair 1877)'
Lower part 'Hieroglyphic of the Psychrolout Club / founded by Selwyn Bp. of New Zealand / (Robt. Liddell) R. L. 1874 / The true meaning of the monogram is that the subscribers to / the Bathing place at Windsor Weir were Philiolouts who / bathed in warm weather only, and Psykrolouts / who bathed in cold also. (W. A. Adair 1877)'
Material
wood
glass
glass
Production
Date
c. 1877?
History and association
Associated person
Previous ownership
