{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O76163"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O76163/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AV4613/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AV4613/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AV4613","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EY4993","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EY4994","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EY5069","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011EY5072","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O76163","accessionNumber":"W.7-1985","objectType":"Table","titles":[{"title":"Arabesque","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"Although it is functional, this table looks like a piece of sculpture. Its undulating curves were inspired by the work of Surrealist artists, in particular Jan Arp's flowing lines and biomorphic shapes. The shape of the table top was based on the outlines of a woman's torso. Mollino had traced it from a drawing by the Italian Surrealist Leonor Fini (1908-1996). In 1950 the table was included in a major exhibition of Italian design called <i>Italy at Work: Her Renaissance in Design Today</i>. The Italian government sent this travelling exhibition around America.","physicalDescription":"Low tea table of bent plywood with a glass top and shelf.  The sheet of plywood that forms the base has been bent into a series of curves and pierced with five irregular, curved cutouts.  The glass top which is fixed to the plywood base with brass fasteners, is also of irregular shape and has curved edges.  The shelf is shorter and narrower than the top, but has a similar curved shape.  The table is further supported at one end by two small brass feet which are fixed to the plywood base.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Mollino, Carlo","id":"A7909"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"AAT25190"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Apelli & Varesio","id":"A7910"},"association":{"text":"manufacturer","id":"x33306"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"plywood","id":"AAT12849"},{"text":"glass","id":"AAT10797"},{"text":"brass","id":"AAT10946"}],"techniques":[{"text":"bending","id":"AAT53101"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Plywood and glass, with brass fittings\r\nThe tiny marks on the edges of the glass top are from pincers that lifted the glass before it was entirely cold. ","categories":[{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"}],"styles":[{"text":"Surrealism","id":"AAT21512"},{"text":"Mid 20th century","id":"x36068"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2006AV4613","2011EY4993","2011EY4994","2011EY5069","2011EY5072"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"133","id":"THES49881"},"free":"","case":"BY12","shelf":"EXP","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Table","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Italy","id":"x28927"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"Turin","id":"x32500"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1949","earliest":"1949-01-01","latest":"1949-12-31"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"98","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"86.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"The sloping top is H: 62.5 x W: 86cm (34 x 24 1/2\"); \r\nexcluding edge battens: 54 x 75cm (21 1/4 x 29 1/2\")"},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"56","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"52","unit":"kg","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"Weighed 26/3/2021"}],"dimensionsNote":"Measured from object NH (2020):\r\nFront rail: 13.3cm (5\") square. Back base rail: 10cm x ? Side rails: 12.3 x 7.5cm. \r\nFront uprights 85 x 70mm; back uprights 90 x 70mm\r\nWeight estimated: 30kg","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"According to Stephen N. Cristiea the table is one of only three examples known.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"'Arabesque' table designed by Carlo Mollino, 1950s, plywood and glass","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Jervis, Simon, 'Echoes Over Two Centuries. Two newly acquired Italian tables at the V&A'. <i>Country Life</i> 6 June 1985, pp. 1586-1590."},{"reference":{"text":"Wood, Ghislaine (ed.), <i>Surreal Things: Surrealism and Design</i>, London : V & A Publications, 2007","id":"AUTH354510"},"details":"","free":"V&A only"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Tea-Table\r\nDesigned by Carlo Mollino (Italian, 1905-1973)\r\nManufactured by Apelli & Varesio, Turin, Italy, 1949\r\nPlywood and glass with brass fittings\r\nW.7-1985\r\nState involvement with design in Italy was less interventionist than in Britain, but the Italian government actively promoted Italian design and industry after the Second World War.  In addition to the three-yearly design exhibitions (Triennale) held in Milan, the Italian government sent a major travelling exhibition around America in 1950.  Entitled 'Italy at work: her Renaissance in Design Today', the exhibition included this table.","date":{"text":"1993","earliest":"1993-01-01","latest":"1993-12-31"}},{"text":"‘Arabesque’ table\r\n1949\r\nDesigned by Carlo Mollino (1905–73)\r\n\r\nItaly\r\nManufactured by Apelli & Varesio, Turin\r\nPlywood and glass\r\nFittings: brass, with modern replacement bracket in Perspex \r\n\r\nMuseum no. W.7-1985\r\n\r\nMollino was an engineer and architect whose many passions included racing cars, photography and women. This table is perhaps his most famous furniture design. Its glass top followed the outline shape of a woman’s back in a drawing by the Surrealist artist Léonor Fini.\r\n\r\nBoth pieces of glass also have a structural function in bracing the lightweight plywood base. Daring cut-outs make the plywood flexible and transparent. ","date":{"text":"01/12/2012","earliest":"2012-12-01","latest":"2012-12-01"}}],"partNumbers":["W.7-1985"],"accessionNumberNum":"7","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1985,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN6461","2019LT2882","2019LU3432","2019LW9357"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-11-20","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-06","availableToBook":false}}