{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O60321"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O60321/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MJ0857/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MJ0857/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2019MJ0857","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019MJ0860","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019MJ0861","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019MJ0862","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JU2048","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O60321/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O60321","accessionNumber":"1996-1900","objectType":"Stool","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The flowing, voluptuous curves of this stool seem to create movement, calling to mind the amorphic shapes found in nature. In the years around 1900 a 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 stool 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 stool formed part of a suite of furniture, which otherwise comprised a table, armchair and chair. They are all now in the V&A’s collection (Museum nos. 1993-1900 to 1995-1900).","physicalDescription":"A stool of carved pearwood, with gilt-brass mounts, the seat upholstered in yellow velvet","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Bigaux, Louis","id":"A5657"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Bagués","id":"A5658"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"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":"brass","id":"AAT10946"},{"text":"velvet","id":"AAT133711"}],"techniques":[{"text":"cabinet-making","id":"AAT53607"},{"text":"carved","id":"AAT53149"},{"text":"cast","id":"x32615"},{"text":"chased","id":"AAT54016"},{"text":"gilded","id":"AAT53789"},{"text":"upholstered","id":"AAT231992"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Carved and turned pearwood; mounts of gilt brass, velvet upholstery","categories":[{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"}],"styles":[{"text":"Art Nouveau","id":"AAT21430"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2019MJ0857","2019MJ0860","2019MJ0861","2019MJ0862","2017JU2048"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES342481"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Stool","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":[],"creditLine":"Given by Sir George Donaldson","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"44.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"40","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"40","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions taken from Deparmental catalogue.  Not checked on object","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Exhibited at the Paris International Exhibition, 1900","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Stool of carved pearwood, with gilt-brass mounts","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"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":["1996-1900"],"accessionNumberNum":"1996","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1900,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-10-16","recordCreationDate":"2001-06-26","availableToBook":true}}