{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O138321"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O138321/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2011EN1908/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2011EN1908/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2011EN1908","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EN1916","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EN1907","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EN1906","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EN1905","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EN1904","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EN1903","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O138321/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O138321","accessionNumber":"CIRC.3:1&:2-1913","objectType":"Chest of drawers","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Domestic chests were often used for storing clothing, bedding and linen, and are often recorded near bedchambers or standing at the foot of a bed. On this example the front has been enlivened with panels of stylised flower inlay, and applied mouldings in a style associated with Dutch furniture, thus creating a more imposing piece than a plain, panelled chest. It is built with a single large drawer below the main compartment, panelled to look like two smaller drawers, providing storage space for smaller objects that might otherwise be difficult to retrieve from the bottom of a chest. By the period when this chest was made, the form now known as a chest of drawers were becoming popular, but simple chests remained in wide use too. (The terms 'mule chest' and 'dower chest', sometimes used today for pieces of this hybrid form, were not used in the 17th century.)","physicalDescription":"Chest with inlay decoration with lifting lid and one long drawer below the main compartment which contains an oak till (the lid missing) at the right end, standing on low square feet. Three mouldings are applied to the front and sides, below the frieze, below the inlaid panels and below the drawer.\n\nThe front is panelled, with a moulded 'string-course' and plain freize above, and on each of the panels an arch with a split-turned pendant and facetted 'jewel' ornament has been applied. Split turned balusters have been applied to the stiles and muntins. Each panel contains an inlaid design of vase with flowers (of various woods), and in the spandrels are floral motifs of bone and engraved mother of pearl.  Below, is a long drawer (apparently two drawers) with a single internal divider, the front fitted with two turned wooden knobs, internal lock and keyhole escutcheon (damaged). The drawer-front is divided into two compartments with applied mouldings and inlayed with scrolling stem and flowers in woods, bone and mother of pearl. \n\nThe lid of two walnut boards with moulded front and sides (moulded in the solid along the front, applied to the sides), with three added modern battens screwed to the underside of the lid), held on original strap hinges (note, each hinge held with one nail from outside, two nails from inside out). Each side has 3 plain panels (two above one horizontal) with moulded muntin and stiles (with stopped mouldings on the inside edges, and a stopped chamfer below. The panelled interior is plain.\r\n\n\nConstruction\nPanelled (pegged mortice and tenon), the front and sides of walnut, the back of panelled oak. Between the front and back lower rails are three nailed oak battens which support the drawer. Applied mouldings. The drawer is constructed of oak with dovetailed sides,  the oak back nailed on, the bottom with front to back oak tongue and groove (bird's mouth) boards nailed up. \n\nModifications\nApparently in good, early condition.  The internall mounted lock for the main compartment is missing. The central panel right pilaster is missing a plinth jewel. The drawer escutcheon damaged. On the left panel is a hole in the upper left spandrel. The lid mouldings have lifted and been held with added nails.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"oak","id":"AAT12264"},{"text":"mother of pearl","id":"AAT11835"},{"text":"ivory","id":"AAT11857"}],"techniques":[{"text":"inlaid","id":"AAT53850"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Walnut and oak, with inlay of various woods and mother-of-pearl","categories":[{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"},{"text":"Household objects","id":"THES48939"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2011EN1908","2011EN1916","2011EN1907","2011EN1906","2011EN1905","2011EN1904","2011EN1903"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES342098"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES342098"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Chest","id":""}],[{"text":"Drawer","id":"AAT40558"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1650-1700","earliest":"1650-01-01","latest":"1700-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"71","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"111.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"48.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Bought for £40 from J. Sitell, of Jairwood Cottage, High Wycombe (RF 13/3673 and 6343)\r\n\r\nOn long-term loan to Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery (Elizabethan House), ca. 1951 - 2015.\r\n\r\nOak chest, purchased from Walter Skull & Sons Ltd (Frederick Skull), Fairwood Cottage, High Wycombe, for £40.00\r\n\r\nNotes from RP 12/3673, 12/6343\r\n\r\nNo further details of provenance.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Chest, walnut and oak with ivory and mother of pearl, England, 1650-1700","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"possibly Yorkshire","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"flowers","id":"AAT132399"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["CIRC.3:1-1913","CIRC.3:2-1913"],"accessionNumberNum":"3","accessionNumberPrefix":"CIRC","accessionYear":1913,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-09-08","recordCreationDate":"2007-08-08","availableToBook":true}}