{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O62682"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O62682/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O62682","accessionNumber":"CIRC.661-1962","objectType":"Fireplace surround","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>With the invention of the hob grate in the mid-18th century, fireplaces assumed a box-like structure with front panels that were often highly decorated.  This was made  possible by the improved casting techniques pioneered earlier in the century.  This tradition of highly ornate, cast-iron fireplaces and decorated surrounds continued until the late 19th century. <br><br><b>People</b><br>Jeckyll trained as an architect and was active, both as an architect and designer in London and Norfolk.  In the 1860s he came into contact with James McNeill Whistler and Edward William Godwin.  By the  1870s he was one of the leading architects of the Aesthetic movement. He designed an interior for the Holland Park house of the collector Alexander Ionides (who bequeathed much of his collection of paintings to the V&A) and the dining room of a house in Princes Gate. The latter, on account of its later painted decoration by J.M. Whistler, became known as the Peacock Room, and is currently on display in the Freer Art Gallery, Washington, USA.  Jeckyll became mentally unstable in 1877 and died in an asylum in 1881. <br><br><b>Design & Designing</b><br>The Aesthetic or Art movement was triggered by the display of Japanese decorative art at the London International Exhibition of 1862.  Strongly influenced by Japanese design, it was a reaction to the moral hegemony of the mid-century Gothic Revival.  Instead, the pursuit of 'Art for Art's sake' became a justifiable goal in itself.  The movement was established when the magazine <i>Punch</i> paid it the tribute of making a mockery of it.","physicalDescription":"Cast iron fireplace surround, displayed in the room from The Grove, Harborne.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Jeckyll, Thomas","id":"A8553"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"AAT25190"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Barnard, Bishop and Barnard","id":"A1301"},"association":{"text":"manufacturer","id":"x33306"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Cast iron","id":"AAT11004"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Cast iron","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Architectural fittings","id":"THES48994"},{"text":"British Galleries","id":"THES48985"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"125GR (VA)","id":"THES49211"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Fireplace surround","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Norwich","id":"x29054"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1880","earliest":"1875-01-01","latest":"1884-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Leicester Museum and Art Gallery","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Marked 'B' on reverse and worn diamond register mark.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Transferred from Leicester Museum and Art Gallery, New Walk, Leicester.\r\nDesigned by Thomas Jeckyll (born in Norwich, 1827, died there in 1881)\r\nMade by the firm of  Barnard, Bishop & Barnard, Norwich","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nThomas Jeckyll, one of the leading designers of the Aesthetic style, was strongly influenced by Japanese art and design. The round motifs on this iron fireplace insert closely resemble Japanese heraldic motifs. The insert is not original to the room, but was added when the room was first displayed in the Museum in 1967.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["CIRC.661-1962"],"accessionNumberNum":"661","accessionNumberPrefix":"CIRC","accessionYear":1962,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-23","recordCreationDate":"2001-10-01","availableToBook":false}}