{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O842619"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O842619/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HR6693/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HR6693/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2015HR6693","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KW7857","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2020ML1979","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O842619/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O842619","accessionNumber":"D.701-1906","objectType":"Drawing","titles":[{"title":"A design for a rococo dressing table which appeared as plate no.118 in The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director (1762 ed.), Thomas Chippendale","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This design for a toilet table appeared as plate number 118 in <i>The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director.</i> In his plate description, Chippendale names this design as <i>‘A Toilet, or Dressing-Table for a Lady’</i>. This design is extremely elaborate and Chippendale describes that <i>‘The Ornaments should be gilt in burnished Gold; or the whole Work may be japanned, and the Drapery may be Silk Damask, with Gold Fringes and Tassels.’</i> Toilet tables were popular furnishings during the 18<sup>th </sup>century and originated from the French public dressing ceremony known as the levee or toilette. In this design, the elaborate curved forms demonstrate the popularity of the rococo style which, also inspired by French precedents, was characterised by curved forms, asymmetry and natural motifs. The rococo style became popular from around 1730. \r\n\r\nThomas Chippendale was a fashionable designer and cabinet-maker in the eighteenth-century, providing furniture to such famous contemporary figures as David Garrick. His company produced high-quality furniture, including some key masterpieces, but Chippendale's outstanding skill was in design. His pattern-book<i> The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director </i>went through three editions in the 1750s and 60s and inspired trade catalogues and pattern-books from fellow designers. Usually produced by architects, a large, elegant pattern-book was an ambitious project for a craftsman at this time.<i> The Director </i>showed the full range of furniture available in the eighteenth century, and the range of styles that were fashionable. Chippendale created a trademark fusion of rococo style with Chinese and gothic elements, which was the basis of 'English' rococo. His style influenced furniture design in contemporary Europe and colonial America, and had a marked Victorian revival in England.<i> The Director </i>designs were the main source for Chippendale's high reputation until his furniture was first identified in 1906.","physicalDescription":"A design for a very ornate toilet (or dressing) table, comprising a commode, mirror, and drawer units. The curved commode has two central drawers beneath an arched skirt with two half-width drawers above and two cupboards either side. Standing on the commode is a mirror with a curved four-drawer unit attached to the frame either side. All the drawers have ornate loop handles. The mirror has a smaller top section, separated by a bow and arrow motif supported by putti. The whole is crowned by an urn, from which drapes and tassels swag to hang down the outside of the drawer units.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Thomas Chippendale Senior","id":"A8241"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"pen","id":"x32505"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawn","id":"x34232"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pen and ink and wash on paper","categories":[{"text":"Designs","id":"THES48968"},{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"}],"styles":[{"text":"Rococo","id":"AAT21155"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2015HR6693","2018KW7857","2020ML1979"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLE","id":"THES49657"},"free":"","case":"W","shelf":"9","box":"A(i)"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"drawing","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x36513"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca.1753-1762","earliest":"1748-01-01","latest":"1762-12-31"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Width","value":"214","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"343","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Design Toylet Table","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Title in pencil to top centre"},{"content":"T. Chippendale","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Signature in black ink to bottom left corner"},{"content":"118","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Plate number in black ink to top right corner"}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"This design appeared as Plate 118 in Chippendale's pattern-book <i> The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director</i>. The inscription does not make clear which edition this was in.","briefDescription":"A design for a rococo dressing table, engraved and published in the <i>Director</i> (1762 ed.), pen, ink and wash on paper, ca.1753-1762, Thomas Chippendale","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director, 1754/1762, pl.118"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Design","id":"THES48872"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"commode dressing tables","id":"AAT164409"},{"text":"wall mirrors","id":"AAT223968"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["D.701-1906"],"accessionNumberNum":"701","accessionNumberPrefix":"D","accessionYear":1906,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-29","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-30","availableToBook":false}}