{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O60320"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O60320/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF8643/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF8643/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BF8643","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O60320","accessionNumber":"1994-1900","objectType":"Armchair","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The flowing, voluptuous curves of this armchair seem to create movement. They remind us of amorphic shapes found in nature. In the years around 1900 a large group of young designers sought to use materials commonly thought of as rigid - wood, glass and metals - in innovative ways. They imaginatively blended and adapted historic styles, such as 18th-century French Rococo, with its shell and flower motifs, with Far Eastern and folk influences. The style became known as <i>l'Art Nouveau</i> - or 'New Art'. It was shown at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1900, where it was seen at its most highly developed.\r\n\r\nThe artist Louis Bigaux designed this particular chair for the well-known manufacturer and retailer Maison Bagués. It was shown at the Paris Universal Exhibition. 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 armchair formed part of a suite of furniture, which otherwise comprised a chair, a stool and a table. They are all now in the V&A's collection (1993-1900 and 1995 to 1996-1900).","physicalDescription":"Armchair,  of carved pearwood, with gilt brass mounts.  The legs capped with chased gilt-brass mounts and of turned section, carved at the bottom and at the top. The legs are united by moulded stretchers of curved section, and the spacing of the legs at the front is wider than that of the back. The moulded armrests are supported on rails which curve backwards to the seat; the seat narrows at the back. Armrests and back stiles appear continuous; they curve inward at seat level and outward in a v-section above to form the backrest of the armchair. The upper section of the backrest is carved at the bottom and rounded at the top, with an upholstered panel in between and gilt-brass finials on either stile. \r\nThe seat and back are upholstered in yellow velvet.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Bigaux, Louis","id":"A5657"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"AAT25190"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Bagués, E.","id":"A5658"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Maison Bagués","id":"A14603"},"association":{"text":"made and retailed by","id":"x37726"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"pearwood","id":"x34734"},{"text":"brass (alloy)","id":"AAT10946"},{"text":"velvet","id":"AAT133711"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"},{"text":"chasing","id":"AAT54016"},{"text":"gilding","id":"AAT53789"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pearwood, with chased gilt brass mounts, upholstered in yellow velvet","categories":[{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"}],"styles":[{"text":"Art Nouveau","id":"AAT21430"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2006BF8643"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES342286"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Armchair","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Paris","id":"x29068"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1900","earliest":"1895-01-01","latest":"1904-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"1993-1900","id":"O60318"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"1995-1900","id":"O112468"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"1996-1900","id":"O60321"},"association":""}],"creditLine":"Given by Sir George Donaldson","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"106","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"approx.","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"68","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"approx.","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"51.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"approx.","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Exhibited at the Paris International Exhibition of 1900","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"French, 1899-1900, d. Bigaux, m. Bagues, Donaldson","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":"leaves","id":"AAT11892"},{"text":"Berries","id":"x31522"}],"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":["1994-1900"],"accessionNumberNum":"1994","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1900,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-10-22","recordCreationDate":"2001-06-26","availableToBook":true}}