{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1029810"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1029810/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HY0416/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HY0416/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2015HY0416","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EW4904","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2020ML2435","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1029810/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1029810","accessionNumber":"E.178-1929","objectType":"Design","titles":[{"title":"Design for an overmantel from; A Miscellaneous Collection of Original Designs, made, and for the most part executed, during an extensive Practice of many years in the first line of his Profession, by John Linnell, Upholsterer Carver & Cabinet Maker. Selected from his Portfolios at his Decease, by C. H. Tatham Architect. AD 1800.","type":"series title"}],"summaryDescription":"This design for an overmantel displays the fascination for chinoiserie and the popular rococo style (which became fashionable ca.1730, characterised by natural, curvaceous, asymmetrical forms) during the middle of the 18<sup>th</sup> century. Chinoiserie was the style inspired by the art and design from China, Japan and other Asian countries. The fashion for importing porcelain from these countries and its subsequent display is demonstrated through the incorporation of shelves and various vases within this design. During the 18<sup>th</sup> century it was extremely popular to have a collection of porcelain and this would be displayed within the home. Overmantels such as this would have been popular for decorative purposes within dressing rooms and Linnell produced an overmantel, which is very similar in structure to this, for the dressing room at Osterley Park, the home of the Child family.\r\n\r\nThe rococo stylistic features such as the curvaceous forms, natural ornamentation and floral motifs are combined with the chinoiserie style in an imaginative and flamboyant way within this design. Due to the fanciful effects that could be produced, it was popular to combine the two styles. Other designers and carvers were producing extremely elaborate chinoiserie-inspired designs such as Luke Lightfoot’s decorative carvings at Claydon House, Buckinghamshire. \r\n\r\nThe central line which divides this design indicates that two different ideas have been combined. Nevertheless the elegant arrangement shows that Linnell could have presented this design to his clients. ","physicalDescription":"A design for an overmantel in the chinoiserie style, the central mirrors are enclosed by curvaceous shapes which take the form of foliage and natural ornamentation. The design has various shelves on top of which are an assortment of different shaped vases. In the centre there is a figure of a Buddha smoking a pipe. The design is asymmetrically arranged and on the left hand side there is a branch which grows upwards, entwined in the frame. On the right hand side a length of flowers are draped and suspended. There is a line running through the centre of the drawing, probably to indicate that these are two separate ideas combined into one design.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Linnell, John","id":"A8617"},"association":{"text":"designers","id":"AAT25190"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"},{"text":"paper (fiber product)","id":"AAT14109"},{"text":"water-colour","id":"AAT15045"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawing","id":"AAT54196"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"pen and ink and yellow and blue watercolour","categories":[{"text":"Drawings","id":"THES48966"},{"text":"Designs","id":"THES48968"}],"styles":[{"text":"chinoiserie","id":"AAT21167"},{"text":"rococo","id":"AAT21155"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2015HY0416","2011EW4904","2020ML2435"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLE","id":"THES49657"},"free":"","case":"W","shelf":"8","box":"C8"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"designs","id":"AAT102051"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca.1755","earliest":"1750-01-01","latest":"1759-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"Production date obtained from Hayward and Kirkham p.61"}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"19.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"07/04/2015","earliest":"2015-04-07","latest":"2015-04-07"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"15.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"07/04/2015","earliest":"2015-04-07","latest":"2015-04-07"},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'p.1 No.2'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Design for a carved overmantel for a dressing room, John Linnell, pen and ink and watercolour, ca.1755","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1929</u>, London: Board of Education, 1930."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Hayward, H. and Kirkham, P. William and John Linnell Eighteenth Century London Furniture Makers, London; Studio Vista, Christie’s (1980) p.76"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Hayward, H. and Kirkham, P. William and John Linnell Eighteenth Century London Furniture Makers, London; Studio Vista, Christie’s (1980) "}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"overmantel","id":"AAT81618"},{"text":"vase","id":"AAT132254"},{"text":"branches","id":"x39097"},{"text":"vases","id":"AAT132254"},{"text":"foliage","id":"x42645"},{"text":"","id":""}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["E.178-1929"],"accessionNumberNum":"178","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":1929,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-15","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-30","availableToBook":false}}