{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O179838"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O179838/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O179838","accessionNumber":"E.674-1994","objectType":"Print","titles":[{"title":"Barrows of Birmingham","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"John O'Connor (born 1942) belongs to a small group of wood engravers who took up the technique after its heyday in the 1920s and 1930s. He was a student of Eric Ravilious at the RCA between 1934 and 1937 and also worked for a short while for the Curwen Press.","physicalDescription":"Proof of a wood-engraved illustration for an advertising folder for the department store Barrows of Birmingham. The image features a table set for tea with teapots, mugs, plates and napkins, bowls of bread rolls and celery, and a vase of flowers. The table is set at a window with transparent curtains overlooking a garden and there is a Windsor armchair set facing towards the viewer. The table is set for two but the second chair is not visible.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"O'Connor, John Scorrer (A.R.E., A.R.C.A.)","id":"A16189"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Barrows","id":"A24043"},"association":{"text":"commissioned by","id":"x28662"},"note":"probably?"}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"wood-engraving","id":"AAT53303"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Wood-engraving on paper","categories":[{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"},{"text":"Illustration","id":"THES48938"},{"text":"Advertising","id":"THES49001"},{"text":"Images Online","id":"THES48937"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"none","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLC (VA)","id":"THES49171"},"free":"","case":"1A","shelf":"","box":"EW149B"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"print","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1955","earliest":"1950-01-01","latest":"1959-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by the artist","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"14.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"folded sheet","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"11.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"folded sheet","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"8.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"image","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"image","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"J O'C","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscribed in pencil"},{"content":"For Barrows of Birmingham 1950s","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscribed in pencil on back"}],"objectHistory":"Acquired in connection with the display A Fine Line - Commercial Wood Engraving in Britain, V&A, 10 October 1994 - 26 March 1995.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Proof of a wood-engraved illustration for an advertising folder for the department store Barrows of Birmingham, by John O'Connor; British, ca. 1955.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<i>A Fine Line - Commercial Wood Engraving in Britain</i>, Victoria and Albert Museum, 10 Oct 1994 - 26 Mar 1995"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Artist's proof","id":"THES48869"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"teapot","id":"AAT43022"},{"text":"salt cellar","id":"x43533"},{"text":"mugs","id":"AAT43248"},{"text":"plates","id":"AAT42999"},{"text":"napkin","id":"AAT216644"},{"text":"vase","id":"AAT132254"},{"text":"flowers","id":"x35571"},{"text":"sash window","id":"x43534"},{"text":"garden","id":"AAT8090"},{"text":"bowls","id":"AAT203596"},{"text":"celery","id":"AAT42978"},{"text":"curtains","id":"AAT203990"},{"text":"table","id":"x31811"},{"text":"Windsor chairs","id":"AAT38030"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"<b>John O'CONNOR (born 1913</b>)\n...\nBarrows of Birmingham\nProof for an advertising folder. c.1955\nWood engraving\nE.674-1994\n\nThe artist's first wood engraving for Barrows was done when he was\nworking for a few months at the Curwen Press in the 1930s to gain\nsome experience of commercial printing. He also gained a number\nof commissions through Robert Harling when he was working at\nEverett Advertising. Within these sympathetic conditions he could \nexplore his interest in pattern and light, an interest he shared with\nhis ex-tutor Ravilious.","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["E.674-1994"],"accessionNumberNum":"674","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":1994,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-09","recordCreationDate":"2008-12-16","availableToBook":false}}