BBC News | In Pictures

Dolphin, 1934

In the new Whale Hall only the ceiling was decorated, to emphasise the form of the building and to avoid a pale monotone plaster surface.

A dark blue star shape was painted round two grilles in the centre of the ceiling, and a border painted around the edge.

However, this was considered too distracting, and in 1938 the ceiling was painted white.


In Pictures: Life through a lens: Natural History Museum 1880 to 1950

	Dolphin, 1934 In the new Whale Hall only the ceiling was decorated, to emphasise the form of the building and to avoid a pale monotone plaster surface. A dark blue star shape was painted round two grilles in the centre of the ceiling, and a border painted around the edge. However, this was considered too distracting, and in 1938 the ceiling was painted white.