{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O34903"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O34903/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JH8267/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JH8267/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2016JH8267","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JH8273","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JH8281","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JH8268","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JH8269","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JH8270","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JH8271","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JH8272","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JH8277","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JH8278","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JH2153","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JH2155","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JH2156","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JH2157","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JH2158","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JH2159","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JH2160","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O34903/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O34903","accessionNumber":"W.2-1971","objectType":"Chair","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This chair was probably designed by the American furniture designer John Henry Belter in about 1856 in New York.  Belter emigrated to New York from his native Hanover, Germany in 1833 where he set up as a cabinet-maker.  He was an advocate of the Rococo Revival, evidence of which can be seen in the flowing curved outline of this chair and the use of naturalistic flowers, fruit and foliage for its carved decoration.  \r\n\r\nBelter was also a pioneer in the use of laminated construction.  He took out patents related to this technique in 1856, 1858 and 1860.  The entire back panel of this chair is made of 7-ply laminated wood, wrapped around the seat.  It is made of rosewood ply and other woods painted to look like rosewood.","physicalDescription":"The chair has a low seat, plain back legs which curve outwards, front legs curve in and then outwards, carved with a rose at the top of the leg and a leaf at the bottom. The wooden vertical front to the seat is curved and carved in the centre with a rose and leaves. The back is curved, carved at the top with elaborate flower and fruit design. The 1970s upholstery has been removed to reveal the construction of the frame.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Belter, John Henry","id":"A3566"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":"attributed"}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"rosewood plywood","id":"THES276039"},{"text":"rosewood","id":"AAT12424"},{"text":"oak","id":"AAT12264"}],"techniques":[{"text":"moulding","id":"AAT53134"},{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"},{"text":"joining","id":"AAT137062"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Moulded, 7-ply rosewood-faced back (internal veneers probably oak or black walnut) with solid rosewood carving applied around cresting, paper; legs pieced from sections of solid rosewood; oak frame","categories":[{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2016JH8267","2016JH8273","2016JH8281","2016JH8268","2016JH8269","2016JH8270","2016JH8271","2016JH8272","2016JH8277","2016JH8278","2016JH2153","2016JH2155","2016JH2156","2016JH2157","2016JH2158","2016JH2159","2016JH2160"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES342638"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"chair","id":"AAT37772"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"New York","id":"x29030"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1860","earliest":"1855-01-01","latest":"1864-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Samuel Dornsife","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"93.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"47","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"45.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Chair, probably designed and manufactured by John Henry Belter, moulded rosewood-faced plywood back, solid rosewood and oak frame, New York, about 1860","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Wilk, Christopher.<u> Plywood: A Material Story.</u> London: Thames & Hudson / V&A, 2017","id":"AUTH345215"},"details":"","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Text from <i>Plywood: Material of the Modern World</i> (15 July-12 November 2017)\n\nCHAIR\nAbout 1860\n\nTo carve a curved chair back out of solid\nrosewood would have been expensive both\nin terms of materials and labour. Belter's\nplywood technique reduced the amount of \nrosewood used, as the internal layers of \nveneer could be made of cheaper wood.\nBy moulding the backs, Belter avoided the\nneed to employ expensive skilled carvers.\n\nProbably designed and manufactured by\nJohn Henry Belter (1804-63)\nNew York, USA\nMoulded, 7-ply rosewood-faced back (internal veneers\nprobably oak or black walnut) with solid rosewood\ncarving applied around cresting, paper; legs pieced from\nsections of solid rosewood; oak frame\n\nGiven by Samuel Dornsife\nV&amp;A: W.2-1971","date":{"text":"2017","earliest":"2017-01-01","latest":"2017-12-31"}},{"text":"Europe and America 1800-1900, room 101\r\n\r\nLAMINATED AND CARVED CHAIR\r\nAbout 1856\r\n\r\nHere a historical style has been combined with technical innovation. The flowing shape and carved decoration are typical of the Rococo Revival, while the wood is laminated. This form of construction significantly reduced the weight and manufacturing costs of the chair. Belter was a pioneer of laminated construction and took out three patents relating to the process.\r\n\r\nUSA, New York; designed and manufactured by John Henry Belter\r\nRosewood, laminated and simulated\r\n\r\nGiven by Samuel Dornsife","date":{"text":"05/08/2015","earliest":"2015-08-05","latest":"2015-08-05"}},{"text":"Europe and America 1800-1900, room 101\r\n\r\nLAMINATED AND CARVED CHAIR\r\nAbout 1856\r\n\r\nUSA, New York; designed and manufactured by John Henry Belter\r\n\r\nRosewood, laminated and simulated \r\n\r\nMuseum no. W.2-1971\r\nGiven by Samuel Dornsife\r\n\r\nThis chair combines a historical style with technical innovation. Its flowing shape and carved decoration are typical of the Rococo Revival, while the wood is laminated. This form of construction significantly reduced the weight and manufacturing costs of the chair. Belter was a pioneer of laminated construction and took out patents relating to the process in 1856, 1858 and 1860.","date":{"text":"2006","earliest":"2006-01-01","latest":"2006-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["W.2-1971"],"accessionNumberNum":"2","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1971,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN4735","2019LT2599","2019LU3155","2023NM1192"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-09-24","recordCreationDate":"2000-04-06","availableToBook":true}}