{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O129263"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O129263/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF9812/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF9812/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AF9812","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O129263","accessionNumber":"W.35:1 to 8-1983","objectType":"Desk","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Practical Equipment Limited, known as Pel, was established by the Midlands conglomerate, Tube Investments, in 1931 in response to the development of tubular steel furniture by the German firm Thonet.  A number of architects and industrial designers created furniture for Pel, exploring the possibilities and limitations of this new medium.  \r\n\r\nThis desk, designed by the architect Wells Coates, is an excellent example of the ways in which tubular steel could be exploited to create furniture.  The 'sledge' legs of the desk ensure that there are no sharp edges that could damage a wooden floor, while providing a means of fixing and supporting the top and drawers.\r\n\r\nIn the early 1930s tubular steel furniture was considered both avant-garde and chic, and attracted an affluent clientele but, as metal became more widespread in furniture design, Finnish plywood furniture took over as the fashionable choice.  Pel survived this swing in taste by heavily marketing a cheap tubular steel-framed stacking chair with a canvas seat, which became the mainstay of village halls across Britain.","physicalDescription":"Chromed steel frame desk with ebonised wood top and drawers.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Coates, Wells OBE","id":"A3035"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Pel Limited - Pel Furniture","id":"A18910"},"association":{"text":"manufacturer","id":"x33306"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"steel","id":"AAT10918"},{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"}],"techniques":[{"text":"ebonising","id":"x36341"},{"text":"joining","id":"AAT137062"},{"text":"welding","id":"AAT53958"},{"text":"bending","id":"AAT53101"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Chromed steel with ebonised wood","categories":[{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2006AF9812"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES341846"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES341846"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES341846"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES341846"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES341846"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES341846"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES341846"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"022","id":"THES412386"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Desk","id":""}],[{"text":"Drawer","id":""}],[{"text":"Drawer","id":""}],[{"text":"Drawer","id":""}],[{"text":"Drawer","id":""}],[{"text":"Drawer","id":""}],[{"text":"Drawer","id":""}],[{"text":"key","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1933","earliest":"1933-01-01","latest":"1933-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"737","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"1600","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"810","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions taken from green catalogue, not checked on object","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Of chromed steel and ebonised wood, British 1933, designed by Wells Coates, manufactured by Pel","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["W.35:1-1983","W.35:2-1983","W.35:3-1983","W.35:4-1983","W.35:5-1983","W.35:6-1983","W.35:7-1983","W.35:8-1983"],"accessionNumberNum":"35","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1983,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","key","Drawer [1]","Drawer [2]","Drawer [3]","Drawer [4]","Drawer [5]","Drawer [6]","Desk"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-12-08","recordCreationDate":"2006-11-17","availableToBook":true}}