Original artwork by artist Kristjana S Williams for Brown's hotel London

 The Hotel's History

London’s first hotel, Brown’s opened its doors in 1837 and in the centuries since has welcomed royalty and writers, Pulitzer Prize and Oscar winners, musicians and scientists, explorers and politicians. While Brown’s has a rich and illustrious history of its own, it has also played a part in history on a global scale, including being the site of the first telephone call in London made by its inventor, Alexander Graham Bell. Through it all Brown’s and its staff remained discrete, protecting the privacy of its guests, with some details of its history only recently coming to light.

For almost 200 years, it has been the hotel’s pleasure to welcome the world through its doors. Past, present, and future, Brown’s has a story worth telling.

Original artwork by artist Kristjana S Williams for Brown's hotel London

 In Autumn 2019, Brown's Hotel commissioned Kristjana S Williams to make five bespoke Original pieces. An elaborate circular world map, two tree pieces and Brown's circular east and west Originals, rich with historical references to both the hotel's and London's rich history.

Original artwork by artist Kristjana S Williams for Brown's hotel London

Original artwork by artist Kristjana S Williams for Brown's hotel London

The Brown’s Circular East London

 

This highly elaborate Original artwork depicts a circular map of East London with the river Thames running through it.  Layer upon layer of victorian engravings are delicately put together to make this beautiful piece. Some integrated into the map itself and many laser or carefully hand cut, folded and pinned in place by the artist. Numerous elements reflect the city’s rich history alongside the history of The Brown’s Hotel. 


Browns hotel: The old filming camera in the bottom centre of the piece, represents John Ford the renowned American film director and owner of  Brown’s Hotel. Below one can find quirky hotel Guests travelling to the hotel in a horse wagon. The heart telephone refers to Graham Bell the American scientist who invented the telephone. He was among some of the hotels celebrity guests as well as Writer John Steinbeck represented by the black book - The Grapes of Wrath. Gold engagement rings refer to Theodore and Edith Roosevelt who also stayed at the Brown’s.An array of cakes, cutlery and fancy teapots reflect the wonderful afternoon Tea served at the hotel. Flying lemons, mushrooms, beans and other foods tell the story of the heart warming meals served at the hotel. 


London: The humorous mouse riding on a Pigeon’s back reference to common animals found in the city.  The Columbia road flower market and Billings gate fish market are represented by scales of flowers and fish. The very traditionally english Pig in blanket serving as s hot air balloon flying in the sky. One can spot Saint Pauls Cathedral in the centre of the piece and next to it a Cast iron dragon, symboling the statues that mark the boundaries of the City of London, two of which are originals from 1849. Jewelled lion and tiger refer to the Royal Menagerie in the Tower of London. The Singer sewing machine tells the story of Saville Row - “The golden mile of tailoring”. Known around the world for its hand crafted traditional bespoke tailoring for men.

Original artwork by artist Kristjana S Williams for Brown's hotel London

Brown’s Circular West London

Original Artwork created for the Brown’s Hotel in London by artist Kristjana S Williams, Autumn 2019. This highly elaborate Original artwork depicts a circular map of East London with the river Thames running through it.  Layer upon layer of victorian engravings are delicately put together to make this beautiful piece. Some integrated into the map itself and many laser or carefully hand cut, folded and pinned in place by the artist. Numerous elements reflect the city’s rich history alongside the history of The Brown’s Hotel.


Brown’s Hotel: The heart telephone refers to Graham Bell, the American scientist who invented the telephone. He was among some of the hotels celebrity guests as well as writers Agatha Christie, Mark Twain and Stephen King represented by a stack of books and Rudyard Kipling the Jungle book author who takes the form of a monkey. Napoleon III was yet another famous guest portrait by a goose on top of a lamp post. An array of cakes, cutlery and fancy teapots reflect the wonderful afternoon Tea served at the hotel. Flying lemons, garlic, figs, beans along with other foods and vine tell the story of the heart warming meals served at the hotel. Peculiar Transport means tell the story of guests travelling to the hotel, like the two foreign characters in the centre of the piece. 


London: Throughout the piece, one can find many references to London landmarks and street names. The Jewelled ostrich refers to the Royal Menagerie in the Tower of London.Traffic Lights - London’s first traffic lights were set up on Parliament Square in 1868. Less than a year later they blew up seriously injuring the very policeman whose traffic duties they had been intended to replace. In 1807 - London got it’s first gas lit street

 

Photographs courtesy of Brown's Hotel

 

The making off

Original artwork by artist Kristjana S Williams for Brown's hotel London

 

Original artwork by artist Kristjana S Williams for Brown's hotel London

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