{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O60628"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O60628/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF7448/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF7448/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AF7448","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HV4014","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KC9766","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O60628/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O60628","accessionNumber":"W.232-1923","objectType":"Armchair","titles":[{"title":"Glastonbury armchair","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Armchair of oak ('Glastonbury' type) from the sanctuary of a church: the flat back, which rakes backwards, is carved with two round headed arches decorated with a guilloche pattern and enclosing a conventional flower set within a lozenge. The X-shaped legs and side rails of the seat are formed of flat rails, which are joined by bars passing through the legs and the junction of the legs and seat rails and fastened by wooden pins; the arms held in position by the front bar of the seat are shaped underneath and ramp-shaped upwards to support the elbows.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"makers","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"oak","id":"AAT12264"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Oak","categories":[{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2006AF7448","2015HV4014","2017KC9766"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES342557"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Armchair","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"mid sixteenth century","earliest":"1540-01-01","latest":"1560-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Mrs. Graham Rees-Mogg","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"105","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"60.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"61","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"45.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"GLASTONBURY CHAIR / FORMERLY IN THE DEANERY EXETER / GUARANTEED BY FRANK PARTRIDGE CIRCA 1590","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"underside of seat","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"Label","note":"Label; underside of seat"}],"objectHistory":"These chairs were designed to be dismantled and carried in pieces; the oak pegs are easily accessible. The front rail was designed to keep a cushion in place.\r\n\r\nFrom:  H. Clifford Smith, Catalogue of English Furniture & Woodwork \r\n(London 1930), cat. 510, Plate 3.\r\nArm-Chair (‘Glastonbury’ type), probably from the sanctuary of a church; the flat back, which rakes backwards, is carved with two round-headed  arches decorated with a guilloche pattern and enclosing a conventional flower set within a lozenge.  The X-shaped legs and the side-rails of the seat are formed of flat rails, which are joined by bars passing through the legs and the junction of the legs and seat rails and fastened by wooden pins; the arms, held in position by the front bar of the seat, are shaped underneath and ramp upwards to support the elbows.\r\n\r\nWest Country.  Late 16th century.\r\nFrom catalogue H. 3 ft. 5 in., W. 1 ft. 10 in., D. 1 ft. 8 in. (H. 104.1 cm, W. 55.9 cm, D. 50.8 cm)\r\n\r\nGiven by Mrs. Graham Rees-Mogg\r\nProbably from a Somerset or Devonshire church.  Formerly the property of the Very Rev. Dr. Cowie, Dean of Exeter; and afterwards of Mr. Harry Hems, of Exeter, and of Cecil, 2nd Lord Fisher of Kilverstone.\r\nThe model of this so-called ‘Glastonbury’ type, is the chair now in the chapel of the Bishop’s Palace at Wells, which is said to have come from Glastonbury Abbey.  (See Bond, F., ‘Wood Carvings in English Churches,’ Vol. II, p. 115).","historicalContext":"The model of this so called 'Glastonbury' type is the chair now in the chapel of the Bishop's Palace at Wells, which is said to have come from Glastonbury Abbey. It is based on earlier Italian models (e.g. Petrarch's chair preserved at his house at Arqua near Padua). The form was later copied by Gillows in 1840 and 1873.\n\nSee Gabriel Olive, 'The Glastonbury Chair', Regional Furniture VIII (2017), pp.24-41\n\nComparable chairs with carved backs: \nChair now in the chapel of the Bishop’s Palace at Wells, which is said to have come from Glastonbury Abbey.  (See Bond, F., ‘Wood Carvings in English Churches,’ Vol. II, p. 115).\nChair with the arms of John Arundell III of Trerice, c1540-75 (Crab Tree Farm, John Bryan collection)\nChair with initials SL, possibly c1570-1600 from the Gabriel Olive Collection, offered by Bonhams London 29/1/2019, lot 237\nChair at the Metropolitan Museum, New York, museum no. 12.5\nChair sold by Bonham's London 28/3/2018 lot 438 ","briefDescription":"Armchair of oak ('Glastonbury' type) from the sanctuary of a church.  English, ca. 1540-60.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Gabriel Olive, 'The Glastonbury Chair', Regional Furniture VIII (2017), pp.24-41; cited p.29 n.18"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"https://web.archive.org/web/20230325083557/https://crabtreefarmcollections.org/item/panel-back-chair-1/"}],"production":"Probably from a Somerset of Devonshire church.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Armchair\r\nEnglish (West Country); mid-sixteenth century\r\nW.232-1923\r\nGiven by Mrs. Graham Rees-Mogg\r\n\r\nCarved oak, probably from a Somerset or Devonshire church. The form of such chairs is derived from earlier Italian models; they are often called 'Glastonbury' chairs as the prototype, now in the Bishop's Palace at Wells, is said to have come from Glastonbury Abbey.","date":{"text":"pre July 2001","earliest":null,"latest":"2001-06-30"}}],"partNumbers":["W.232-1923"],"accessionNumberNum":"232","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1923,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-23","recordCreationDate":"2001-07-05","availableToBook":true}}