{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O118369"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O118369/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AL5134/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AL5134/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AL5134","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AL5133","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AL5132","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O118369/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O118369","accessionNumber":"W.3:1to6-1974","objectType":"Commode","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Although mahogany was a very fashionable wood for furniture making in Britain from the 1740s, it only became popular in France in the 1780s.  Decisions about woods were often dictated by such practical matters as which country controlled the colonies from which woods were imported into Europe, and where the markets for tropical timbers were centred.  The use of mahogany in France coincided with a fashion for all things English (‘Anglomanie’) and an admiration for plainer fashions in both furniture and dress.  This commode (chest of drawers) is typical of the 1780s or 1790s, with its straight lines and relatively restrained decoration.  The maker relied on the contrast between the rich colour of the mahogany and the glint of the lacquered brass, with a subtle highlight in the ebony which is used as a narrow band to frame the drawers. ","physicalDescription":"Commode, with three long drawers, solid mahogany and mahogany veneered on a carcase of oak.  The commode is set with lacquered-brass mouldings, including a lacquered-brass gallery surrounding the white marble slab. The commode is raised on four turned, tapering feet. The attached columns on the front corners have fluting highlighted in gold paint. The keyholes to the drawers \n\n<u>Design</u>\nThe commode is raised on four turned, tapering feet, the widest part of these and the base of them set with brass mounts. The form of the commodes is strictly rectangular, with outset, attached columns at the corners, these fluted and the flutes highlighted with gilding.  The body is set with a continuous half-round moulding in lacquered brass that runs across the front and sides of the commode and its outset attached columns just above a low plinth section.  A similar moulding demarcates an upper frieze section, containing the top drawer. The drawers are outlined with a moulded framing of lacquered brass that forms a variety of cock-beading projecting forward of the edge of the drawer. A similar moulding is used to articulate the frieze section on the sides of the commode, and a larger, almost square panel below this on each side. The marble top is set within a lacquered brass moulding, rising above the top to form a gallery, cast with a decorative trellis design.  At the front of the commode, the gallery section is omitted, to allow access to the top of the commode. Inside the moulding on the drawers is a narrow framing of ebony, separated from the main mahogany veneers by brass stringing. The veneers of the drawers are book-matched. The top of the fronts of the drawers are also veneered in mahogany. \r\nThe bail handles are of lacquered brass, of chamfered rectangle in section, the bails with right angles rather than curves in form. The backplates are of domed, hexagonal form.  The keyholes show lacquered brass escutcheons, of very plain form.  The shafts on which the keys locate are visible and are of tri-lobed form. \r\nThe white marble top is fully enclosed by the gallery. It has been broken into several pieces but is held together by the framing.\n\n<u>Construction</u>\nThe commode is of frame and panel construction, the uprights at the front of mahogany and those at the back of oak. The top, of oak,  is made in three panels, with two muntins running front-to-back.  The sides of the commode are of softwood, each composed of three vertical boards with horizontal cleats at top and bottom. The back panel, of oak, shows three vertical panels.  The horizontals of the frame are tenoned into the uprights at either end, with two muntins tenoned between them, the through tenons showing on the top surface of the top rail. The dust boards between the drawers are formed with frames of oak, lipped with mahogany at the front edge (so that these sections do not require veneer).  The main panels of the dust boards are each composed of two boards, running laterally, probably of poplar.\r\nThe drawers are of oak, dovetailed, the horizontal boards of the bases running in grooves in the sides and the fronts, and running under the backs of the drawers, to which they are pinned up.\r\nThe spring locks are double throw, of steel.  The top lock locks downwards, the others upwards. The lock of the second drawer is detached and within the drawer.  The key, a later replacement, is of steel with a quatrefoil- sectioned barrel.\r\n\r\n","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"mahogany","id":"AAT12221"},{"text":"ebony","id":"AAT12055"},{"text":"brass","id":"AAT10946"},{"text":"marble","id":"AAT11443"},{"text":"oak","id":"AAT12264"},{"text":"softwood","id":"AAT12510"},{"text":"poplar","id":"AAT12363"}],"techniques":[{"text":"cabinet-making","id":"AAT53607"},{"text":"veneering","id":"AAT53878"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Oak carcase, veneered in mahogany, with lacquered brass mouldings and mounts.","categories":[{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"}],"styles":[{"text":"neo-classicism","id":"x38958"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2006AL5134","2006AL5133","2006AL5132"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"NONE","id":"THES49066"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES341166"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES341166"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES341166"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES341166"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES341166"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"key","id":""}],[{"text":"Marble top","id":""}],[{"text":"Drawer","id":""}],[{"text":"Drawer","id":""}],[{"text":"Drawer","id":""}],[{"text":"Commode","id":""}],[{"text":"Commode","id":"AAT77277"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Paris","id":"x29068"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"probably"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1800","earliest":"1795-01-01","latest":"1804-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by Mme Yvonne de la Cruz-Frölich","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"86.25","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"131.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"54","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions taken from departmental catalogue at the time of acquisition","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"‘128’\r\n ‘0/28’ ","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Written in chalk on bottom of top drawer.  Possibly a lot number"}],"objectHistory":"Bequeathed to the Museum by Mme Yvonne de la Cruz-Frölich, Sunningdale (See Registered Files 62/3098 on Nominal File MA/1/L8), who had first offered pieces to the Museum in 1962. On her death a group of furniture was bequeathed (Museum numbers W.2 to W.5-1974). \n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Commode, with three long drawers, in solid mahogany and mahogany veneered on a carcase of oak and softwood.  The commode is set with lacquered-brass mouldings, including a lacquered-brass gallery surrounding the white marble slab. The commode is raised on four turned, tapering feet. ","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["W.3:6-1974","W.3:5-1974","W.3:4-1974","W.3:3-1974","W.3:2-1974","W.3:1-1974"],"accessionNumberNum":"3","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1974,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","key","Marble top","Drawer [1]","Drawer [2]","Drawer [3]","Commode"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2005-11-09","availableToBook":false}}