{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O312613"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O312613/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O312613","accessionNumber":"A.20:1, 2-1955","objectType":"Fireplace","titles":[{"title":"Fireplace from Fairford Park, Gloucestershire","type":"named collection"}],"summaryDescription":"This marble chimneypiece was originally at Fairford Park, Gloucestershire, and was rescued by John Summerson, then Curator of Sir John Soane's Museum and Dorothy Stroud, Deputy Curator of the Museum, when the house was being demolished in 1955.\r\nThe building at Fairford Park for Andrew Barker was begun in 1661. Alterations to the house were subsequently carried out by Sir John Soane for J.R. Barker in 1789, and designs for the present chimneypiece are in Sir John Soane's Museum. A relief on the frieze is based on a drawing from the antique made by Soane when in Rome. \r\n\r\nSir John Soane was an architect and collector. He trained with George Dance, who instilled in him the 'first principles' of nature, truth, fitness and purpose. Soane used these, together with influences from many diverse sources, in a way that earned him recognition as the most original British architect of his period. He used concealed and top-lighting in his interiors to create uncanny effects that he referred to as 'lumiŠre myst‚rieuse' (mysterious light). It was perfectly suited to his redesign of the Bank of England , where side windows were mainly forbidden, and used to wonderful effect at another commission, Dulwich Gallery.  His house in Lincoln's Inn Fields is now the Soane Museum, and houses his vast collection of antiquities, paintings and books.The Breakfast Room, with its extraordinary 'floating' domed ceiling, is a typical example of Soane's originality.","physicalDescription":"","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Sir John Soane","id":"N2369"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"marble","id":"AAT11443"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Marble","categories":[{"text":"Architectural fittings","id":"THES48994"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"A002","id":"THES384090"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES383983"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"fireplace","id":"AAT52267"}],[{"text":"fireplace","id":"AAT52267"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1789","earliest":"1784-01-01","latest":"1793-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"168","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A., 1955.\r\nOriginally at Fairford Park, Gloucestershire, this chimneypiece was rescued by John Summerson, then Curator of Sir John Soane's Museum and Dorothy Stroud, Deputy Curator of the Museum, when the house was being demolished in 1955. In order to safe the chimneypiece Mr Summerson purchased it from Oakley's, the demolition contractors at Fairford Park. He subsequently sold it to Hildburgh at cost price plus expenses, a total of £35 8s (price for chimneypiece £30).","historicalContext":"The building at Fairford Park for Andrew Barker was begun in 1661. Alterations to the house were subsequently carried out by Sir John Soane for J.R. Barker in 1789, and designs for the present chimneypiece are in Sir John Soane's Museum.\r\nA relief on the frieze is based on a drawing from the antique made by Soane when in Rome.","briefDescription":"Fireplace, marble, from Fairford Park, Gloucestershire, designed by Sir John Soane, English, ca. 1789","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Bilbey, Diane and Trusted, Marjorie. <u>British Sculpture 1470-2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum</u>. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 2002, p. 154, cat.no. 209"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Verey, D, <u>The Buildings of England. Gloucestershire I. The Cotswolds</u>, first published 1970, Harmondsworth, 1979, p. 248"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Dean, P., <u>Sir John Soane and the Country Estate</u>, Aldershot, 1999, p. 180"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["A.20:1-1955","A.20:2-1955"],"accessionNumberNum":"20","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1955,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-07-23","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":false}}