{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O109838"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O109838/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017KC3253/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017KC3253/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2017KC3253","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O109838/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O109838","accessionNumber":"W.88:1to2-1924","objectType":"Commode","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The particularly small size of this commode suggests that it was made for a special commission, although we know nothing of its early history.  Its decidedly French form, with the marquetry disguising the break between the doors, is typical of the work of the fashionable firm headed by John Cobb (1715-1778) in St Martin’s Lane, the centre of the fashionable furniture-making trade in 18th-century London. Although the curving outline of the commode was typical of the slightly earlier rococo style, the marquetry is very much in the new neo-classical style of the 1770s.  The design is based on published engravings.  The design of the right-hand door is based on an engraving by Gabriel Huquier (1695-1772), after a design for a trophy of musical instruments by the artist Antoine Watteau (1684-1721), first published in 1735.  Engravings were often used in this way as a design source for decoration of all sorts of decorative items. ","physicalDescription":"A two-doored commode of serpentine outline, raised on tall legs, the lower edge of serpentine form, the exterior veneered with satinwood, inlaid trophies of musical instruments in laburnum, holly and sycamore, with banding of rosewood and  mounts of gilt-brass; the commode is fitted inside with one shelf.  \n\nThe commode is veneered in the French 'sans traverse' fashion, in which the design of the marquetry is continuous across the doors.  The hinges of the doors are at the side, hidden by the mounts running down the front corners. The doors are inlaid with trophies of musical instruments hanging from inlaid swags of laurel, draped over circular <i>paterae</i> (rosettes) at either end of the front and held up in the centre with a ribbon bow from which a pendant of three-leaved motifs hangs down, each motif decreasing in size, the lowest almost touching a fan-like motif at the base of the doors where they meet. In the outer, lower corners of the doors are inlaid scrolling foliage motifs. The inlaid motifs show details with careful incising, filled with black mastic, to provide detailed 'drawn' details on the motif. The musical instruments on the Proper Right door include a French horn and a trumpet, hanging against a banner. On the proper left door the design includes a lute, a violin, a trumpet and a tambourine, with a book of music open with fluttering pages (this derived from a design by Watteau - see History).  The sides are inlaid with similar, but narrower, swags of swags of laurel, held up in the centre with a ribbon bow. The top, which has moulded edges,  is inlaid with a border showing ribbon twisted around a rod, the centre with an almost circular reserve outlined with scrolls that continue on either side onto the satinwood ground. The front corners of the commode are each mounted with a continuous mount of gilt-brass, rising from scrolled feet to and upright leaf motif just below the top. \n\nThe carcase of the commode is of pine. The back is of mahogany.\n\n ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Cobb, John","id":"A8255"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":"attributed to"}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"satinwood","id":"AAT12451"},{"text":"mahogany","id":"AAT12221"},{"text":"pine","id":"AAT12620"},{"text":"rosewood","id":"AAT12424"},{"text":"holly","id":"AAT12156"},{"text":"laburnum","id":"AAT251078"}],"techniques":[{"text":"marquetry","id":"AAT53853"},{"text":"cabinet-making","id":"AAT53607"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Satinwood, rosewood and mahogany veenered on pine with engraved marquetry decoration","categories":[{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"}],"styles":[{"text":"neo-classicism","id":"x38958"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2017KC3253"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES302811"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"006","id":"THES341491"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"key","id":""}],[{"text":"Commode","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1770-1775","earliest":"1770-01-01","latest":"1775-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Mrs H.H. Mulliner, through Freeman Smith Esq.","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"87","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"76","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"45","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"LW 19.11.09","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Given by Mrs H.H. Mulliner after the death of her husband, the noted collector of English furniture, Herbert Hall Mulliner (1861-1924), who directed firms producing scientific instruments and later armaments and shipping. In 1913 he made a donation of furniture to the V&amp;A.  After his retirement, he bought Rainham Hall, Essex, as a setting for his collection. See Registered papers 24/4619.\n\nThe commode is attributed to John Cobb (about 1715 to 1778), an upholsterer and cabinet-maker who worked from St Martin's Lane, London.  From 1751 he was in partnership with William Vile (about 1700 to 1767) but he continued in business after the retirement of Vile in 1784, producing some of the finest marquetry furniture made in London at that time. His work was clearly influenced by French marquetry.  Like any practical businessman, he sometimes repeated popular lines.  Another commode, very similar to this one, but slightly larger, is in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum, New York (inv. no. 29.119.1).  That commode, which is not quite so high in quality as the V&amp;A one, was at one time in the Collection of William Hesketh Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme.  It was not unusual for collectors, in whatever field, to vie with each other to buy similar items. Lucy Wood noted that this commode is similar to the description of one sold (unillustrated) by Christie's, London, 29 April 1920, lot 38. This, with the previous lot, is noted as having been sold to Miss D. Baker.\n\nThe curved rococo outline was slightly old-fashioned by the 1770s but the marquetry is in the latest neo-classical taste. It includes trophies of musical instruments, one copied from one of a set of 12 trophies engraved by Gabriel Huquier (1695-1772), published in 1735, after a design by Antoine. Watteau (1684-1721).  This was identified by Geoffrey de Bellaigue in 1963 (see references below).\n\nOn display in the Octagon Court (Gallery 40) in January 1936, in neg. 74057, view 1c.\n\n\n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"A two-doored commode of serpentine outline, raised on tall legs, the exterior veneered with satinwood inlaid trophies of musical instruments in laburnum, holly and sycamore, with mounts of gilt-brass; the commode is fitted inside with one shelf. English, attributed to John Cobb, 1770-75\n\n","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Mulliner, H.H., <i>The Decorative Arts of England 1660-1780</i> (London: B.T. Batsford, 1924), figs. 50 and 51.\n\nMulliner describes the borders as of 'laburnum'. He pointed out that the musical instruments shown were of French form. "},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Bellaigue, Geoffrey de, 'English Marquetry's Debt to France - II', <i>Country Life</i>, 20 June 1968, pp. 1690-1691. "},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Tomlin, Maurice, <i>Catalogue of Adam Period Furniture</i> (London:HMSO for the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1972), cat. no. U/3, p. 170."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"musical instruments","id":"AAT41620"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"COMMODE\nBRITISH; about 1775\nSatinwood (originally stained red), with marquetry of various woods, on a carcase of mahogany; mounts of gilt-bronze\n\nThis unusually small commode suggests a special commission. It was probably made by the London cabinet-making firm headed by John Cobb (c. 1715-1778), who is also credited with the larger commode (W.30-1937) shown here. The curved rococo outlines of both commodes were slightly old-fashioned by this date but the marquetry is in the latest neo-classical taste. Here it includes trophies of musical instruments, one copied from an engraving by G. Huquier (1695-1772), published in 1735, after a design by A. Watteau (1684-1721).\nGiven by Mrs H.H. Mulliner\nMuseum No. W.88-1924","date":{"text":"1996","earliest":"1996-01-01","latest":"1996-12-31"}},{"text":"COMMODE\nENGLISH; about 1775\nSatinwood with marquetry of various woods\nAttributed to John Cobb (d. 1778)\n\nGiven by Mrs H.H. Mulliner\nMuseum No. W.881924\n\n[Text by Desmond Fitzgerald]","date":{"text":"1972","earliest":"1972-01-01","latest":"1972-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["W.88:2-1924","W.88:1-1924"],"accessionNumberNum":"88","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1924,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","key","Commode"],"assets":["2024NW7016"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-12-08","recordCreationDate":"2005-03-02","availableToBook":true}}