{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1176178"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1176178/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2011EN2437/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2011EN2437/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2011EN2437","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EN2434","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1176178/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1176178","accessionNumber":"W.32:1, 2-2010","objectType":"Storage box","titles":[{"title":"Gracieux Accueil (Gracious Reception)","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"The storage box is an example of the series ‘Objects For An Electronic Age’, designed by Nathalie de Pasquier and George J. Sowden. The two designers were core members of the radical design group Memphis. They first met at the inception of the group and subsequently married. \r\nThe series was their own project and not directly related to Memphis. However, it employs many features pioneered by the design group: the use of plastic laminates to create a colourful, patterned surface, the use of ornament and the departure from functionality in favour of a vivid sculptural form. With the series the designers intended to mark the transition between mechanically based and electronically based designs. As Sowden recalls in an interview (by Glenn Adamson, 22 February 2010): ‘If mechanical design is about function, then electronic design will be about decoration – ‘Electronic Age objects will be anything.’ \r\nDu Pasquier was primarily active as pattern designer at this period and was very involved in producing patterns for laminates. Her skill with pattern and colour is evident in this box, which alludes to Art Deco style but may also bear the influence of her travels through Africa in 1980 in its black-and-white serrated ornament. Du Pasquier sometimes produced very limited runs of particular pattern for use on a few or only one object. As Sowden noted, this was a way to ‘create one-off pieces with an industrial process’. \r\n","physicalDescription":"Storage box in red, black, and white with reflective metal panels","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"du Pasquier, Nathalie","id":"A20769"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Sowden, George J.","id":"A20770"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Verdi, Giuseppe","id":"A37154"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"steel","id":"AAT133751"},{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"},{"text":"plastic laminate","id":"AAT14579"}],"techniques":[{"text":"chrome plating","id":"x41580"},{"text":"painting","id":"x30598"},{"text":"laminating","id":"AAT53022"},{"text":"","id":""}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Chrome plated steel, painted wood, plastic laminate","categories":[{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"},{"text":"Plastic","id":"THES49026"}],"styles":[{"text":"Post-Modern","id":"AAT22208"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2011EN2437","2011EN2434"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"76","id":"THES49548"},"free":"","case":"CA29","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"76","id":"THES49548"},"free":"","case":"CA29","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"storage box","id":""}],[{"text":"lid","id":"AAT45712"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Italy","id":"x28927"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"Italy","id":"x28927"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1983","earliest":"1983-01-01","latest":"1983-12-31"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""},{"date":{"text":"1983","earliest":"1983-01-01","latest":"1983-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"7.5","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"7.5","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"6","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Given by the previous owner","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"The storage box was designed for the series 'Objects For The Electronic Age'. It was the own project of the two Memphis designers: Nathalie du Pasquier and George J. Sowden. It was not directly related to Memphis. Though it uses many of the features pioneered by the group: the use of plastic laminates to create a colourful, patterned surface; the use of ornament; functionality and vivid sculptural form. \r\nDu Pasquier produced textile prints, wallpaper patterns, a few furniture and tableware designs for Memphis. She was very involved in producing patterns for laminates. Her skill with pattern and colour is evident in this box. It alludes to Art Deco style like many Memphis objects of the period. Its bold black-and-white serrated ornament shows the influence of her travels through Africa in 1980.\n\nHistorical significance: The storage box is a very rare and important piece and has never been displayed. Du Pasquier sometimes used a particular pattern on a few or only one object. Sowden recalled (interview by Glenn Adamson 22 February 2010) 'this was a way to create one-off pieces with an industrial process'.","historicalContext":"Nathalie du Pasquier and George J. Sowden were core members of Memphis. They met at the inception of the Memphis design group and were subsequently married. The series 'Objects For The Electronic Age' was their own project. They wanted to mark the transition between mechanically based and electronically based designs. Sowden recalled (interview by Glenn Adamson, 22 February 2010) their insight was: 'If mechanical design is about function, then electronic design will be about decoration. Mechanical devices have shapes that must be housed in an exterior shell, but an electronic device can be any shape. 'Electronic age' objects will be anything'.","briefDescription":"Storage box, wood, metal and plastic laminates, 'Gracieux Acceuil', by Nathalie du Pasquier and George J. Sowden, designed and made in Italy, 1983.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Designed for the series 'Objects For The Electronic Age'","productionType":{"text":"Limited edition","id":"THES48862"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["W.32:1-2010","W.32:2-2010"],"accessionNumberNum":"32","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":2010,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","storage box","lids"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-03","recordCreationDate":"2010-12-08","availableToBook":false}}