{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O58581"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O58581/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AV1119/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AV1119/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AV1119","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O58581/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O58581","accessionNumber":"W.1A-1988","objectType":"Bracket (one of a pair)","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>This bracket and its pair (museum no. W.1-1988) are mentioned in the 1740 inventory of the contents of Tottenham Park, described as 'ten poettes heads on painted and gilt brackets (one ditto of Mr. Pope)'.<br><br><b>Design</b><br>They are carved in imitation of stone and enriched with water gilding. The upper edge of the plinth has a cyma reversa moulding - that is a moulding that is convex in its upper part and concave below. The plinths are supported by  scroll-shaped brackets decorated  with a bead and reel moulding flanked by outward-facing cyma reversa borders. The C-scroll pendant frames an acanthus leaf.<br><br><b>Materials & Making</b><br>Water gilding gives a particularly bright and shiny effect, unlike oil gilding which is duller. In water gilding, the base coat (a reddish clay known as 'bole') is moistened with water before the gold leaf is applied. When the work is dry the gold is burnished with a special tool.  <br><br><b>People</b><br>Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington, was the chief proponent of the Palladian style. He designed Tottenham Park, Wiltshire,  from 1721, adding  four corner pavilions in 1738. The house belonged to Charles, Viscount Bruce who had married Burlington's sister, Juliana,  in 1719. It was Burlington's first architectural commission and launched his career as an architect. <br><br>The interior furnishings were designed by William Kent.","physicalDescription":"Wall bracket of carved, painted and gilded softwood, of scrolling console form. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Kent, William","id":"A8575"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"AAT25190"},"note":"probably"}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"softwood","id":"AAT12510"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"},{"text":"painting","id":"x30598"},{"text":"gilding","id":"AAT53789"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Painted and gilded softwood","categories":[{"text":"Architectural fittings","id":"THES48994"},{"text":"Woodwork","id":"THES48877"},{"text":"British Galleries","id":"THES48985"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2006AV1119"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"54C","id":"THES49247"},"free":"","case":"WE","shelf":"","box":"16"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Bracket","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"probably"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1729-1732","earliest":"1729-01-01","latest":"1732-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"W.1-1988","id":"O59593"},"association":"Pair"}],"creditLine":"Purchased with the assistance of the Brigadier Clark Fund through Art Fund","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"60.96","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"35.56","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"26.67","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: Registered Description; 19/01/1998 by KN\n\nTop shelf of bracket is W: 31.75 x D: 26.67","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Designed by William Kent (born in Bridlington, Yorkshire, 1685, died in London, 1748) and almost certainly made in London. Susan Weber (see refs.) discussed the brackets with others of similar form designed by Kent. These were made for Tottenham Park, Wiltshire, 1729-1732. They were recorded in Tottenham's 1740 inventory as among '10 Poetts heads on painted and gilt bracketts one Ditto of Mr. Pope' in the study of Lord Bruce'. ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Bracket of scrolled console form, in softwood, carved, painted and gilded, supporting a square shelf. Made for Tottenham Park, Wiltshire, 1729-1732","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Weber, Susan, 'Kent and the Georgian Baroque Style in Furniture: Domestic Commisions', in Susan Weber (ed.), <u>William Kent. Designing Georgian Britain</u> (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, published for the Bard Center, New York, 2013, to accompany the exhibition of the same name held at the Bard Center, New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2013-2014), pp. 469-526, illustrated p. 508. fig. 18.56 and discussed p. 509."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"W.1&a-1988\r\n\r\nPAIR OF BRACKETS\r\nENGLISH; about 1730\r\nPainted and gilded wood\r\n\r\nFrom Tottenham Park, Wiltshire.  The house was designed for Charles Lord Bruce from 1721 by Richard Boyle, Earl of Burlington (1694-1753).  The brackets may well have been designed by his close friend and collaborator William Kent (c.1685-1748).  An inventory of about 1740 lists in Lord Bruce's study 'ten poettes heads on painted and gilt brackets'.\r\n\r\nPurchased by the Brigadier Clark Fund through the National Art-Collections Fund.","date":{"text":"pre October 2000","earliest":null,"latest":"2000-09-30"}}],"partNumbers":["W.1A-1988"],"accessionNumberNum":"1","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1988,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN1739","2019LV7564","2019LV7338"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-10-17","recordCreationDate":"2001-04-27","availableToBook":false}}