{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O78705"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O78705/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM7300/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM7300/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM7300","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London/John Thomson","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2014HG4685","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London/John Thomson","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O78705/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O78705","accessionNumber":"PH.350-1982","objectType":"Photograph","titles":[{"title":"Old Furniture","type":"assigned by artist"},{"title":"Street Life in London","type":"series title"}],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>The photographer John Thomson (1837-1921) used the 'Woodburytype' process patented in 1864 for the images in <i>Street Life in London</i>, including this photograph. This was a type of photomechanical reproduction using pigmented gelatin, usually of a rich purple-brown colour. The process was complicated but remained popular until about 1900 because of the high quality and permanence of the finished images.<br><br><b>Subjects Depicted</b><br>Much second-hand furniture was originally the entire contents of a poor household, bought together for a given sum. The items were then repaired, repainted or varnished for sale. Second-hand furniture dealers in the 19th century were used to scenes of misery:  their stock often came from owners who were desperate for money and had to sell their basic possessions to survive.<br><br><b>Real or Posed?</b><br>The people in the pictures were arranged or posed by Thomson to form interesting compositions. However, the results were often naturalistic because the subjects and surroundings were always authentic.","physicalDescription":"Photograph","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Thomson, John","id":"A8914"},"association":{"text":"photographer","id":"AAT25687"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[{"text":"photography","id":"AAT54225"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Woodburytype","categories":[{"text":"Photographs","id":"THES48910"},{"text":"Scotland","id":"THES262877"},{"text":"Europeana Fashion Project","id":"THES265804"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2006AM7300","2014HG4685"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLF","id":"THES49656"},"free":"","case":"X","shelf":"37","box":"A"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"photograph","id":"AAT46300"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1877-1878","earliest":"1877-01-01","latest":"1878-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Mrs D. Crisp","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"500","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"mount","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"350","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"mount","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: Measured; 04/10/2000 by PaperCons","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Taken in London by John Thomson (born in Edinburgh, 1837, died in London, 1921)","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"old furniture","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nPHOTOGRAPHS FROM 'STREET LIFE IN LONDON'<br>\nThese photographs were first published in 12 instalments in 1877-1878 in a series entitled 'Street Life in London'. John Thomson had earlier photographed in China and recognized London as a remarkable new subject. Together with journalist Adolphe Smith he wrote commentaries on each image. 'Street Life' is among the earliest and most evocative examples of social documentary photography.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}},{"text":"Gallery 100, ‘History of photography’, 2011-2012, label text : \r\n\r\nJohn Thomson (1837-1921)\r\n‘Public Disinfectors’, ‘Street Advertising’, ‘Doctor’,\r\n‘Old Furniture’, from the series Street Life in London\r\n1877-8\r\nAfter photographing in Asia in the 1860s Thomson\r\nidentified London as a subject of equal fascination.\r\nStreet Life in London was published in twelve\r\ninstalments between 1877 and 1878. The series was\r\nproduced in collaboration with journalist Adolphe\r\nSmith, who wrote commentaries for each image.\r\nThe project is among the earliest and most evocative\r\nexamples of social documentary photography.\r\n\r\nWoodburytypes\r\nGiven by Mrs D. Crisp\r\nMuseum nos. Ph.320, 321, 322, 350-1982\r\n","date":{"text":"07 03 2014","earliest":"2014-03-07","latest":"2014-03-07"}}],"partNumbers":["PH.350-1982"],"accessionNumberNum":"350","accessionNumberPrefix":"PH","accessionYear":1982,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LR1187","2019LP0516","2019LU8451"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-05-29","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-27","availableToBook":false}}