{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1815009"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1815009/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2026PM4611/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2026PM4611/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2026PM4611","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2026PM4613","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2026PM4612","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1815009/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1815009","accessionNumber":"WE.13366-2014","objectType":"Drawing","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Chess pieces or 'Chessmen' have been a popular Wedgwood product in jasperware, black basalt  and Queen's ware since the late 18th century. \r\n\r\nA set was designed by John Flaxman Jr (1755-1826) in 1785, with a bill from Flaxman, dated 30 October 1783, recording the purchase of ‘a figure of a fool for chess £1 : 5 : 0’ (V&A Wedgwood Collection Archives: E2-1339) implying that the subject has been modelled in wax. Josiah Wedgwood (1730-95) was pleased with the set, indicated by a reply from Flaxman, dated 5 February 1784, ‘I return you many thanks, for the liberal praise you bestow on my chess figures’ (V&A Wedgwood Collection Archives: E2-30188). On 20 February 1784, progress in the production of the figures was reported to Flaxman, ‘We are getting forward with the chessmen and hope soon to send a complete set to Greek Street’ (V&A Wedgwood Collection Archives: E2-30189).\r\n\r\nBetween 1785 and 1795, 130 sets were sold, and variations in colour were employed. Dark blue, lilac, and green dip bases were provided for some of the white jaspeware pieces. The figures of the Kings and Queens are traditionally said to portray Sarah Siddons and Philip Kemble in Shakespearian roles.","physicalDescription":"Drawing, pen and ink on lined paper; rectangular, with eighteen black pen, ink and wash drawings in two rows depicting chess pieces: Kings, Queens, Pawns, Castle, Knight, and Bishop, signed 'I Flaxman Invt. et Delint' to far-left of drawing, mounted on rectangular cream card, within rectangular wood and gilt frame, metal hanging chain on reverse of frame.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"John Flaxman","id":"A1284"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"wash","id":"AAT11051"},{"text":"pen","id":"x30618"},{"text":"card","id":"x30344"},{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawing","id":"x32498"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pen, ink, wash, paper, card, wood","categories":[{"text":"V&A Wedgwood Collection","id":"THES276060"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"WED","id":"THES270009"},"images":["2026PM4611","2026PM4613","2026PM4612"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"SHLN","id":"THES49063"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"drawings","id":"AAT33973"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1785","earliest":"1780-01-01","latest":"1789-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"335","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"frame","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"695","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"frame","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"30","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"frame","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"270","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"card","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"615","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"card","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'I Flaxman Invt. et Delint' (signed on front)","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Drawing of a chess set, pen, ink and wash on paper, John Flaxman Jr, London, ca. 1785 ","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"23.20 Pen and ink and wash on lined paper, signed ‘I Flaxman Invt. et Delint’. John Flaxman Jr. c. 1785.\r\nGallery text written 2008.","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["WE.13366-2014"],"accessionNumberNum":"13366","accessionNumberPrefix":"WE","accessionYear":2014,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-09-09","recordCreationDate":"2026-01-26","availableToBook":false}}