{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O83196"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O83196/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AE7941/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AE7941/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AE7941","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AE7940","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JV9194","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KV2901","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O83196/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O83196","accessionNumber":"349-1890","objectType":"Architectural model","titles":[{"title":"Architectural model for the proposed Reading Room of the British Museum","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Following the completion of the British Museum by Sir Robert Smirke (1781-1867) it soon became obvious that space allocated for new books for the library would be insufficient. Two new storage rooms built in the intervening years did not alleviate the problem. The Librarian at the British Museum at the time, Antonio Panizzi, suggested the purchase of further additional land in Russell Square, but this idea was rejected because of the expense. However, in 1852 Panizzi suggested another option accepted by the Museum authorities, that of placing a building in the Museum's inner quadrangle. Sydney Smirke was the architect of the scheme and the contractors Messrs Baker & Fielder. Panizzi asked Alfred Stevens (whose major works include the Wellington Monument in Westminster Abbey) to design the interior painted and with sculptural decoration but this did not come to fruition.","physicalDescription":"Wood and cardboard and plaster","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Smirke, Sydney","id":"A10079"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Stevens, Alfred George","id":"A8886"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Wood","id":"AAT11914"},{"text":"Cardboard","id":"AAT14224"},{"text":"plaster","id":"AAT14922"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Wood, cardboard and plaster","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Architecture","id":"THES48993"},{"text":"Architectural fittings","id":"THES48994"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2006AE7941","2006AE7940","2017JV9194","2018KV2901"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"128 (VA)","id":"THES49888"},"free":"","case":"CA24","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Architectural model","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1853","earliest":"1848-01-01","latest":"1857-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"58.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"106.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Architectural model for proposed reading room at the British Museum. Alfred Stevens.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Beattie, Susan. <i>Alfred Stevens 1817-1875</i>, London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1975","id":"AUTH354504"},"details":"39","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>List of Objects in the Art Division South Kensington Museum acquired during the Year 1890. Arranged according to the dates of acquisition, with appendix and indices.</u> London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1891. pp. 40"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Leslie, Fiona. 'Inside Outside: Changing Attitudes towards Architectural Models in the Museums at South Kensington' in <u>Architectural History</u> 47. 2004. pp. 159-200"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Esdaile, Arundell. <u>The British Museum Library: a short history and survey.</u> London. Allen and Unwin. 1946"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Stannus, Hugh. <u>Alfred Stevens & his work.</u> London. The Autotype Co. 1891. pp. 22"},{"reference":{"text":"Physick, John and Michael Darby, <i>/'Marble Halls': drawings and models for Victorian secular buildings</i>, London, HMSO, 1973","id":"AUTH356762"},"details":"","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["349-1890"],"accessionNumberNum":"349","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1890,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-27","recordCreationDate":"2003-08-05","availableToBook":false}}