{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O110744"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O110744/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AY3086/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AY3086/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AY3086","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O110744","accessionNumber":"W.1-2005","objectType":"Seat","titles":[{"title":"Single Block Seat","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"The Single Block Seat is hewn from a single block of unseasoned burr oak. The makers have simply pared away a concave section on top of the block to make a surprisingly comfortable place to sit. The cracks and splits in the wood occur naturally as the timber dries out, but the makers have not tried to disguise them. In fact, by charring the whole surface of the seat, they draw our attention to the beauty of the wood in its natural condition. They have taken a minimal approach to creating a monumental piece of furniture, achieving maximum effect. Partridge and Walmsley have made several variations of the Single Block Seat, and most of them sit in public places like gardens and canal paths.","physicalDescription":"The seat is carved from a solid block of unseasoned (green) burr oak using chainsaws and power sanders.  The piece was left to dry; the process of cracking up inevitably happens as baulks of timber season.\r\nThe block is then scorched hard with a blow torch and the soot removed.  This burning process hardens the surface and accentuates the grain as the spring growth burns out more easily.  After all soot has been removed the surface is waxed.\r\n\r\n","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Partridge, Jim","id":"A14325"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Walmsley, Liz","id":"A14326"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"oak","id":"AAT12264"}],"techniques":[{"text":"sawing","id":"AAT53072"},{"text":"sanding","id":"AAT53080"},{"text":"scorching","id":"x39293"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Burr oak, hewn and charred","categories":[{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2006AY3086"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"133","id":"THES49881"},"free":"","case":"BY9","shelf":"EXP","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"single block seat","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Shropshire","id":"x29141"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"2004","earliest":"2004-01-01","latest":"2004-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Copyright Jim Partridge & Liz Walmsley","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Width","value":"71","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"45","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"35","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"37","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"seat","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Single Block Seat, charred burr oak, designed and made by Jim Partridge and Liz Walmsley, Shropshire, 2004","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Jointly made piece by Jim Partridge and Liz Walmsley","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"103-106\r\n\r\nSINGLE BLOCK SEAT\r\nDesigned and made by Jim Partridge and Liz Walmsley\r\nCharred burr oak\r\nBritish, 2004\r\n\r\nThe Single Block Seat is hewn from a single block of unseasoned burr oak. The cracks and splits occur naturally as the timber dries out and by charring the whole surface of the seat, the makers draw attention to the beauty of the wood in its natural condition. There are several variations of the Single Block Seat, and most of them sit in public places like gardens and canal paths.\r\n\r\nW.1-2005","date":{"text":"12/07/2006","earliest":"2006-07-12","latest":"2006-07-12"}},{"text":"‘Single Block Seat’\r\n2004\r\nDesigned and made by Jim Partridge (born 1953) and Liz Walmsley (born 1952)\r\n\r\nEngland (Shropshire)\r\nBurr oak, scorched and waxed\r\n\r\nMuseum no. W.1-2005\r\n\r\nDug-out furniture is carved from a solid block of wood. It usually produces furniture that is massive, heavy and very robust, such as chests that needed be secure and immobile. For this seat, a single block of unseasoned oak was carved with a chainsaw and power sanders. The surface was then scorched with a blow torch, cleaned and waxed.","date":{"text":"01/12/2012","earliest":"2012-12-01","latest":"2012-12-01"}}],"partNumbers":["W.1-2005"],"accessionNumberNum":"1","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":2005,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LM9802","2019LN2991","2019LT9109"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2005-03-31","availableToBook":false}}