{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O131679"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O131679/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2024NW5220/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2024NW5220/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2024NW5220","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2013GL6015","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O131679/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O131679","accessionNumber":"791-1896","objectType":"Headboard","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"On oak beds of the 16th and early 17th centuries in Britain, the most important ornament was used on the headboard and the foot posts, where it was most immediately apparent to onlookers.  This headboard is decorated with carving and with inlay of lighter woods, in complex floral patterns as well as simple chevron bandings.  The lower part of the headboard, which is undecorated, would have been covered by the mattresses and pillows, which were heaped up high, as it was the custom to sleep in an almost sitting position.  The use of inlay was a relatively new technique and became highly fashionable in Britain in the second half of the 16th century, promoted strongly by the German craftsmen who settled in the Southwark area of London and brought exceptional skills in inlay with them.  Very soon the technique had spread beyond London and it is not possible to say for certain in which area of Britain this headboard was made. ","physicalDescription":"A headboard from an oak bedstead, carved and inlaid with lighter woods. The headboard is set between two square posts that run the full height, with three major cross rails.  The lower part of the headboard is composed of four plain panels, set between the posts and intermediate vertical rails (muntins), running between the lower bed rail (which is pierced for the roping that would have supported the mattresses) and a shallower mid-rail, which creates a shallow frieze between two applied mouldings, the frieze inlaid with chevrons in lighter woods. The bedposts at this lower level are carved with fluting on the front faces and each show a tall, narrow mortise into which the tenons of the side rails would locate. Above the mid-rail  (that is above the level that would be covered by the mattresses and pillows) the headboard shows two panels set between the posts and central muntin, these all with applied, carved pilasters in the form of balusters, the fronts carved with fluting (vertical channels) below leafy frieze sections and scrolling, Ionic capitals. The two outer pilasters show friezes carved with downward facing leaves, the central one with a <i>fleur-de-lys</i>. To the outside of each outer pilaster is an applied carving of a grotesque bird.  Above another moulding is a frieze section, showing two panels between three scrolling brackets carved with leaves. The panels each show three semi-circular motifs embellished with formal foliage. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"oak","id":"AAT12264"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"},{"text":"joinery","id":"x36614"},{"text":"inlay","id":"AAT53850"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Carved oak, with inlay of paler woods","categories":[{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"},{"text":"Woodwork","id":"THES48877"}],"styles":[{"text":"Renaissance","id":"AAT21140"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2024NW5220","2013GL6015"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES397602"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Headboard","id":"AAT40447"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1575-1599","earliest":"1575-01-01","latest":"1599-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"71.25","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"58.875","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"From catalogue H. 5 ft. 11 ¼ in., W. 4 ft. 10 7/8 in. (H. 181 cm, W. 149.5 cm)","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Purchased 1896 for £16.10s ((£16.50) from Messrs W. Williamson & Sons, Guildford, on the advice of Sir J.F. Donnelly. Registered files 106283/1896 and 45757/1897.  Williamson &amp; Sons were a well-known firm of antique dealers. Described as 'Slightly wormeaten and small portions missing'. ","historicalContext":"In the 16th and early 17th century, the most important elements of a high status bed were the headboard and, to a lesser extent, the tester, or 'ceiling' of the bed.  Whereas earlier beds had relied on the richness of their textile hangings for their effect, these beds relied on carved ornament and panels of inlay of other woods, as on this piece. ","briefDescription":"Headboard, from a bed, of carved oak, with two inlaid panels. British, 1575-1600","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"H. Clifford Smith, <i>Catalogue of English Furniture &amp; Woodwork</i> (London, 1930), cat. 504.\n\n\n"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["791-1896"],"accessionNumberNum":"791","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1896,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-05-01","recordCreationDate":"2007-02-13","availableToBook":true}}