{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O502342"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O502342/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HR6695/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HR6695/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2015HR6695","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KW7860","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2020ML1928","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O502342/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O502342","accessionNumber":"2594","objectType":"Design","titles":[{"title":"A design for a nautical-themed frame which appeared as plate no.187 in The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director (1762 ed.), Thomas Chippendale","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This design inscribed ‘A Picture Frame’ by Thomas Chippendale is the original design for plate no.187 in the 1762 edition of <i>The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director</i>. It demonstrates Chippendale’s remarkable skill as a draughtsman and the type of designs that he was producing for this popular pattern book. This design was engraved for the <i>Director</i> by the engraver Isaac Taylor (1730-1807) whose name is visible on the plate but not in this design. In the plate definition within the<i> Director</i> it is listed as 'A Frame for a Picture of an Engagement at Sea'. The nautical theme that is present would have been ideal for patrons who may have held a high ranking position within the military for example and such elaborate furnishings would have been displayed within the important state rooms of the household. The rocaille (frilly, shell-like details) featured within this design is typical of the rococo style which became popular around 1730 in England, characterised by natural and marine imagery and ‘S’ and ‘C’ curved forms. \n\nThomas Chippendale was a fashionable designer and cabinet-maker in the eighteenth-century, providing furniture to such famous contemporary figures as David Garrick. His company produced high-quality furniture, including some key masterpieces, but Chippendale's outstanding skill was in design. His pattern-book<i> The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director </i>went through three editions in the 1750s and 60s and inspired trade catalogues and pattern-books from fellow designers. Usually produced by architects, a large, elegant pattern-book was an ambitious project for a craftsman at this time.<i> The Director </i>showed the full range of furniture available in the eighteenth century, and the range of styles that were fashionable. Chippendale created a trademark fusion of rococo style with Chinese and gothic elements, which was the basis of 'English' rococo. His style influenced furniture design in contemporary Europe and colonial America, and had a marked Victorian revival in England.<i> The Director </i>designs were the main source for Chippendale's high reputation until his furniture was first identified in 1906.","physicalDescription":"A design for a picture frame in rococo style with nautical theme, four corner and four side ornaments, all different but acting as similar pairs across the frame. The top centre ornament shows Neptune with sea animals, the top left shows trumpets, drums and swords, the centre left shows a mast and stowed sail, the bottom left a putti taking navigational measurements. The bottom centre shows the stern of a ship with sails and weapons, the bottom right shows a putti measuring a globe, the centre right shows a ship's prow, sail and flag, the top right helmets and standards. In the centre of the frame is an isolated corner ornament in rococo style without nautical elements.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Thomas Chippendale Senior","id":"A8241"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"pen and ink and watercolour","id":"x32505"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawn","id":"x34232"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pen and ink and wash on paper.","categories":[{"text":"Designs","id":"THES48968"},{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"},{"text":"Frames","id":"THES48949"}],"styles":[{"text":"Rococo","id":"AAT21155"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2015HR6695","2018KW7860","2020ML1928"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLE","id":"THES49657"},"free":"","case":"W","shelf":"9","box":"A(i)"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"drawing","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x36513"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca.1738-1762","earliest":"1733-01-01","latest":"1762-12-31"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Width","value":"332","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"230","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"A picture frame","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Title in black ink to top centre"},{"content":"T. Chippendale [Esq]","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Signature in pencil to bottom left corner"},{"content":"187","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Plate number in black ink to top right corner"}],"objectHistory":"This design came to the museum with a collection of single designs by Matthias Lock. They were bought from a descendant, George Lock, and had been exhibited by him at the International Exhibition held at South Kensington in 1862. The mixed nature of this Lock and Chippendale material has helped to fuel the idea that the two collaborated professionally. It has even been suggested that Lock ‘ghost’ designed for Chippendale, but it now seems more likely that he provided piece-work carving for Chippendale’s larger projects.","historicalContext":"This design appeared as Plate 187 in Chippendale's pattern-book <i> The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director</i>. ","briefDescription":"A design for a nautical-themed frame, engraved and published in the <i>Director</i> (1762 ed.), pen, ink and wash on paper, ca.1738-1762, Thomas Chippendale","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director, 1754/1762, pl.187"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Design","id":"THES48872"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"frames (furnishings)","id":"AAT189814"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["2594"],"accessionNumberNum":"2594","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-23","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-30","availableToBook":false}}