{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O754694"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O754694/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020ML2465/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020ML2465/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2020ML2465","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O754694/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O754694","accessionNumber":"E.74-1929","objectType":"Drawing","titles":[{"title":"Design for an armchair from; A Miscellaneous Collection of Original Designs, made, and for the most part executed, during an extensive Practice of many years in the first line of his Profession, by John Linnell, Upholserer Carver & Cabinet Maker. Selected from his Portfolios at his Decease, by C. H. Tatham Architect. AD 1800.","type":"series title"}],"summaryDescription":"This workshop design for an armchair by John Linnell is simple in structure. It does not contain the decorative forms common within some of his more flamboyant designs such as  scrolling acanthus leaves and curved shapes. It is a good example of a chair designed for general daily use, where the sober decorative detail of the chair back is appropriate to its function within domestic sitting rooms for instance. \n\nThe presence of a light pencil sketch next to the ink drawing demonstrates that Linnell was experimenting with form and therefore this design was probably intended for his own  use, not as a presentation piece for clients. The structure of the chair back is an example of the way in which the Linnell firm were producing various carved chair backs. ","physicalDescription":"A design for an armchair in pencil, pen and ink and wash. The chair is sober in form with straight  legs and outward scrolling feet.  The frame of the chair back contains five decorative  supports which are straight and  curve towards the top. At the centre of these supports is a  horizontal panel within which  are four small circular shapes.  To the right of the design is a  faint pencil sketch of half a  chair. One of a set of designs  for furniture, including chairs  and state beds, interior  decoration, including pier  glasses, and architectural  fittings including chimney pieces  and doors. In a volume.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Linnell, John","id":"A8617"},"association":{"text":"designers","id":"AAT25190"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper (fiber product)","id":"AAT14109"},{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"},{"text":"wash","id":"AAT11051"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawing","id":"AAT54196"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"pencil, pen and ink and wash","categories":[{"text":"Drawings","id":"THES48966"},{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"},{"text":"Designs","id":"THES48968"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2020ML2465"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLE","id":"THES49657"},"free":"","case":"W","shelf":"8","box":"C2"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"drawing","id":""}],[{"text":"designs","id":"AAT102051"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"late 18th century","earliest":"1750-01-01","latest":"1799-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"21","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"23/04/2015","earliest":"2015-04-23","latest":"2015-04-23"},"part":"volume","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"17.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"23/04/2015","earliest":"2015-04-23","latest":"2015-04-23"},"part":"volume","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"John Linnell (1729-1796) was the son of the furniture maker William Linnell (ca. 1703-1763) and gained his design education from the St Martin’s Lane Academy. The influence that the St. Martin’s Lane Academy had upon Linnell’s designs are evident through his adoption of rococo forms and motifs, largely inspired by the stylistic precedents emerging from France during this period. During his lifetime John Linnell produced high quality furniture, which rivalled that of other leading furniture makers such as Thomas Chippendale, John Cobb and William Ince and John Mayhew. His later years saw his incorporation of the newly fashionable neoclassical style within his designs which was becoming popular in the latter half of the 18<sup>th</sup> century.\r\nSelections from his portfolios were made, after his death, by C.H. Tatham, and arranged in scrapbooks, possibly with the intention of publishing them. Two of the volumes were acquired by the Museum in 1911. (See E. 3466-3739--1911, no longer in volumes, but mounted separately.) The album had previously belonged to Tatham's daughter Julia, the wife of George Richmond. (Ward-Jackson, P. English Furniture Designs of the Eighteenth Century, V&A; London (1958) p54-55).\r\n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Design for an armchair in pencil, ink and wash from a volume of designs for furniture, interior decoration and architectural fittings, by John Linnell, Great Britain, late 18<sup>th</sup> century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1929</u>, London: Board of Education, 1930."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["E.74-1929"],"accessionNumberNum":"74","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":1929,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-24","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-30","availableToBook":false}}