{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O131697"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O131697/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HB8384/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HB8384/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2014HB8384","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EM8177","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EM8176","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EM8175","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EM8174","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EM8173","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EM8172","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EM8171","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EM8170","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HV0057","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O131697/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O131697","accessionNumber":"86-1893","objectType":"Chair","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"By about 1650 relatively lightweight but stout chairs were becoming more common in English households, and were starting to replace stools for dining in more affluent homes. This chair would have been used with a separate seat cushion on the solid seat board. \r\n\r\nThe distinctive open back, with carved arches and scrolled finials, is a feature found on other chairs from south Yorkshire and north Derbyshire. Like much 17th-century furniture, this chair has undergone repairs: the seat boards have been replaced, and all the joints have been reinforced with additional pegs.","physicalDescription":"Oak backstool of pegged mortice and tenon construction (the joints with 3 or 4 pegs suggesting that it has been rebuilt), the back formed by a top and mid rail. The top rail in the form of three arches with surface carving (the original pilasters on which they were apparently supported missing and replaced by two turned balusters), and possibly missing a crest that fitted onto the top rail. The mid rail carved with stylized flower motifs, and with 3 added finials. The rear legs with outward scroll finials, and each with a split baluster turning applied to the front face. The front legs turned, the twin side, singel front and single rear stretchers are plain, rectangular. The sunken seat (10mm deep, for a cushion, missing) is formed by 3 boards (apparently replacements, with mechanical saw marks) held in grooves in the rails, the front side and back seat rails with moulded edges. With a dark stain overall.\r\n","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"oak","id":"AAT12264"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"},{"text":"turning","id":"AAT53158"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Oak, turned and carved","categories":[{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"},{"text":"Household objects","id":"THES48939"},{"text":"Woodwork","id":"THES48877"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2014HB8384","2011EM8177","2011EM8176","2011EM8175","2011EM8174","2011EM8173","2011EM8172","2011EM8171","2011EM8170","2015HV0057"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES342419"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Chair","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"South Yorkshire","id":"x29442"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1660-90","earliest":"1660-01-01","latest":"1690-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"98","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"49","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"46.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"7.45","unit":"kg","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"NH May 2026"}],"dimensionsNote":"seat height 46cm","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Bought for £5 from C.H.Marshall, East Retford (the seat then covered with a modern American cloth)\r\n(see Arthur Marshall 'Specimens of Antique Carved Furniture and Woodwork')\r\n\r\nPreviously on long-term loan to Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery (Elizabethan House), ca. 1951 - 2015.\r\n","historicalContext":"See KNELL, David: English Country Furniture, 1500 - 1900. (Woodbridge, 2000), pl.381; CHINNERY, Victor: Oak Furniture - The British Tradition. (Woodbridge, 1979), pl. 3:137. Oak Furniture from Yorkshire Churches (Temple Newsam, Leeds, 1971) no. 16 a chair at Swillington \r\n\r\nChinnery suggests p.480 that the double cross-splat backstool originated in Yorkshire, but examples are now widely spread, and that it may now be too late to locate the original workshop centres, of which there must have been several. He suggests that early specimens may date from a little before 1650, while later examples were produced up to 1700 and a little later.\r\n\r\nWells-Cole (1971) suggests that large numbers ‘exist throughout the West and North Ridings. They probably all belong  to the second half of the 17th century although only one dated example (1686) has been traced. The decoration of the back rails indicates that channelled spiral motifs combined with deep cross hatching, stamped enrichment and foliate carving was widely popular in the county. Since this stylised pattern is not repeated on other kinds of furniture its value as a feature for identifying companion pieces of local origin is limited although it obviously expresses a vigorous tradition.’ (p.10)","briefDescription":"Chair, carved oak, South Yorkshire or North Derbyshire, 1630-1660 (46/947)","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Chair; with arcaded back, the upper rail having three carved arches with baluster columns resting on a carved lower rail; each rail being surmounted by turned finials; the uprights of the back have applied half balusters and end with scroll finials.  The front legs are turned; the front and back and four side stretchers are plain.  (Sunk seat has been replaced by a leather covered cushion.)\r\n\r\nYorkshire or Derbyshire.  Middle of the 17th century.\r\nfrom catalogue: H. 3 ft. 2 ½ in., W. 1 ft. 7 in. (H. 97.8 cm, W. 48.3 cm)"}],"production":"or North Derbyshire; restored","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["86-1893"],"accessionNumberNum":"86","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1893,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-18","recordCreationDate":"2007-02-13","availableToBook":true}}