{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O22774"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O22774/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JR4490/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JR4490/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2016JR4490","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JR4489","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JR4480","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JR4478","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AV9130","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2013GK3271","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2013GK3281","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JR4477","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JR4479","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O22774","accessionNumber":"CIRC.83:1 to 3-1975","objectType":"Reclining chair","titles":[{"title":"Long Chair","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"Marcel Breuer (1902-1981) has been described as one of the most influential designers of the 20th century. He was an architect and furniture designer, working in both Europe and America. During a brief period in England, Breuer worked on private commissions and as a designer for the furniture manufacturer, Isokon.\r\n\r\nThe most important achievement of Breuer's two year union with Isokon was the Long Chair. In 1936 it cost over £6 and relatively few were made. Initially the seats were sent from Estonia and attached to London-made frames. Isokon would upholster the chair in fabric of the client's choice, but the loose cover on this example is a later replacement.\r\n\r\nAlthough the chair's design derives from a Breuer aluminium chair of 1932-33, the use of plywood is influenced by the moulded furniture of Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. The British taste for Modernism favoured the soft curves and warm appearance of wood rather than the harsher aesthetic of metal furniture.","physicalDescription":"Long, reclining chair with laminated birch frame, including arms, plywood continuous seat/back and long cushion with cover, that covers the length of both seat and back.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Breuer, Marcel Lajos","id":"A3027"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"AAT25190"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Isokon Furniture Company","id":"A6731"},"association":{"text":"manufacturers","id":"AAT25230"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"birch","id":"AAT11973"},{"text":"plywood","id":"AAT12849"}],"techniques":[{"text":"laminated","id":"AAT53022"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Laminated birch frame, with bent plywood seat/back","categories":[{"text":"ELISE","id":"THES48961"},{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"}],"styles":[{"text":"British","id":"AAT111159"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2016JR4490","2016JR4489","2016JR4480","2016JR4478","2006AV9130","2013GK3271","2013GK3281","2016JR4477","2016JR4479"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES342216"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES344327"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES344327"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES344327"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Reclining chair","id":""}],[{"text":"Squab cushion","id":""}],[{"text":"loose cover","id":""}],[{"text":"Replacement cushion","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"Estonia","id":"x30327"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1936","earliest":"1936-01-01","latest":"1936-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"CIRC.80-1975","id":"O70961"},"association":"Version"},{"object":{"text":"CIRC.315-1965","id":"O176156"},"association":"Reproduction"}],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"72","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"61.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"137","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"MADE IN ESTONIA","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Stamped in centre of plywood seat at foot end."}],"objectHistory":"Breuer's earliest version of the Long Chair utilized a mortise and tenon joint at the connection between the frame and the seat that became loose over a period of time from use. The second incarnation, as in this example, uses a n improved joint to connect the frame and seat providing greater stability.","historicalContext":"The most important achievement of Breuer's two year union with Isokon was the Long Chair. In 1936 it cost over £6 and relatively few were made. Initially the seats were sent from Estonia and attached to London-made frames. Isokon would upholster the chair in fabric of the client's choice but this loose cover is thought to be later.\r\n\r\nAlthough the chair's design derives from a Breuer aluminium chair of 1932-33, the use of plywood is influenced by the moulded furniture of Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. The British taste for Modernism favoured the soft curves and warm appearance of wood rather than the harsher aesthetic of metal furniture.\r\n\r\n[Gareth Williams, 'British Design at Home', p.117]","briefDescription":"Reclining 'Long' chair, des. Breuer, man. Isokon Furniture, 1936, London","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>British Design since 1880</u>, Fiona MacCarthy, Lund Humphries, 1982."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"'LONG CHAIR'\r\nDesigned by Marcel Breuer (Hungarian, 1902-1981)\r\nManufactured by Isokon Furniture Company, London\r\nMolded birch plywood with 'Zebrano' veneer, replacement upholstered cushion\r\n1935-1936\r\n\r\nIsokon was a company devoted to the production of modern furniture founded by the visionary modernist Jack Pritchard. Bauhaus  emigres Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer were its Comptroller and designer respectively.\r\n\r\nCirc.83-1975","date":{"text":"1989-2006","earliest":"1989-01-01","latest":"2006-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["CIRC.83:1-1975","CIRC.83:2-1975","CIRC.83:3-1975","CIRC.83:4-1975"],"accessionNumberNum":"83","accessionNumberPrefix":"CIRC","accessionYear":1975,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","loose cover","Squab cushion","Reclining chair"],"assets":["2019LU9515","2019LW0938"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-09","recordCreationDate":"2000-02-07","availableToBook":true}}