{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O60318"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O60318/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF8355/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF8355/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BF8355","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O60318","accessionNumber":"1993:1, 2-1900","objectType":"Writing table","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The flowing, voluptuous curves of this writing table seem to create movement, calling to mind the amorphic shapes found in nature. In the years around 1900 a large number of young European designers sought to use materials commonly thought of as rigid – wood, glass and metals – in innovative ways. They imaginatively blended and adapted historical styles such as 18th-century French Rococo, with its shell and flower motifs, with Far Eastern and folk influences. The style became known as l’Art Nouveau, or ‘New Art’. It was seen at its highest state of development at the Paris International Exhibition in 1900.\r\n\r\nThis table is one of the items exhibited at the Paris exhibition. The artist Louis Bigaux designed it for the well-known manufacturer and retailer Maison Bagués. Bigaux’s work was unusual in comparison with that of other designers working in the Art Nouveau style, because he both understood and harnessed the production possibilities of machines. Many artists designed for hand manufacture, but Bigaux’s designs were often mass-produced and therefore cheaper. They were well adapted to a bourgeois clientele searching for elegant yet affordable furniture.\r\n\r\nThis writing table formed part of a suite of furniture, which otherwise comprised an armchair, a chair and a stool. They are all now in the V&A’s collection (1994-1900 to 1996-1900).","physicalDescription":"Writing table of carved pearwood, with gilt-brass mounts.  On either side of the kneehole is a single drawer in the frieze and these drawer sections are each raised on four legs, joined by a turned and carved H-stretcher, with two turned and carved uprights set half-way between the front and back legs.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Bigaux, Louis","id":"A5657"},"association":{"text":"designer and maker","id":"x34662"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Bagués, E.","id":"A5658"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Bagués, E.","id":"A5658"},"association":{"text":"decorator","id":"x30812"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Maison Bagués","id":"A14603"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Maison Bagués","id":"A14603"},"association":{"text":"retailer","id":"AAT25246"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"pearwood","id":"x34734"},{"text":"gilt brass","id":"x38746"}],"techniques":[{"text":"cabinet-making","id":"AAT53607"},{"text":"carved","id":"AAT53149"},{"text":"cast","id":"x32615"},{"text":"chased","id":"AAT54016"},{"text":"gilded","id":"AAT53789"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Carved and turned pearwood, with gilt-brass mounts","categories":[{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"}],"styles":[{"text":"Art Nouveau","id":"AAT21430"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2006BF8355"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES342673"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"006","id":"THES302809"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Writing table","id":""}],[{"text":"Key","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Paris","id":"x29068"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1899-1900","earliest":"1899-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Sir George Donaldson","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"75","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"148.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"80","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Measurements taken from departmental catalogue.  Not checked on object","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Exhibited at the 1900 Paris Exhibition and bought by Sir George Donaldson for the V&A","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Writing table of carved and turned pearwood with mounts of gilt brass","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Donaldson, George,  The Victoria and Albert Museum. Gift of \"New Art\" Furniture for Circulation. The Magazine of Art, 1901, pp. 466-471 (illus.)"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"flowers","id":"x35571"},{"text":"foliage","id":"AAT11892"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"DESK, STOOL AND ARMCHAIR\r\nDesigner: Louis Bigaux\r\nManufacturer: Maison Bagués\r\nParis: about 1900\r\nCarved pearwood, with gilt bronze mounts and yellow velvet upholstery\r\n\r\n1993, 1994 and 1996-1900\r\n\r\nThis suite was shown at the Paris 1900 Exhibition.\r\n\r\nGiven by Sir George Donaldson","date":{"text":"pre 1990","earliest":null,"latest":"1989-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["1993:1-1900","1993:2-1900"],"accessionNumberNum":"1993","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1900,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Writing table","Key"],"assets":["2023NR0913"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-23","recordCreationDate":"2001-06-26","availableToBook":false}}