{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O94147"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O94147/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010EH1562/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010EH1562/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2010EH1562","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2010EH1563","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2010EH1566","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2010EH1564","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2010EH1568","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2010EH1567","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2010EH1565","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2010EH1561","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2010EH1560","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2010EH1559","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KE6907","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KJ9715","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KJ9737","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KJ9753","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019LY8005","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O94147/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O94147","accessionNumber":"1108:1 to 5-1882","objectType":"Commode","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"At first glance this commode appears to have been made in France around 1765-1770. The overall shape, the intricate marquetry and the gilt-bronze mounts all look as if they came from Parisian workshops, although the commode is unusually wide. In fact, it was made in Stockholm in 1779 by Georg Haupt, who became cabinetmaker to the King of Sweden in 1769. In his early career, after his apprenticeship in Stockholm, Haupt travelled widely to improve his training. After a short visit to Germany, he worked in turn in Amsterdam, Paris and London before he was granted his royal appointment. It is not surprising that he went to Paris to learn new skills: not only was the French capital recognized as the leading city for the luxury trades at the time, but there had also been strong links between the courts of Stockholm and Paris since the late 17th century. \nThe massive swags with which this commode is mounted and inlaid, and it's generally bold and imposing effect, are typical of the early phase of Parisian neoclassicism to which Haupt remained faithful in Sweden long after a lighter and more refined version of neoclassical ornament had become fashionable elsewhere.\r\nThis commode may have been made for a royal commission because the central motif of the marquetry, a wheatsheaf supported by two putti, forms part of the coat of arms of the Swedish royal family.","physicalDescription":"A breakfront commode raise on high, cabriole legs, veneered in mahogany, walnut and other woods (some stained), with gilt-bronze mounts and marble slab.  The shape is that of a French Transitional commode, the body rectangular, with a breakfront section in the centre and with canted front corners. The main panel on the front shows a marquetry design of two putti supporting a corn sheaf (the arms of the Vasa family, the royal family of Sweden).\r\n\r\nSoftwood backboard, laterally grained, made from two wide planks and a narrow section at the bottom (top plank 8-3/4 in. high, middle plank 9¼ in. high, bottom plank 2--3 in. high, top edge sloping, higher at right end). Backboard is housed in a grooove in the pine back stiles, and fixed by plugged screws (or possibly dowels) to the back edge of the bottom board. The screws (or dowels) are not evenly spaced; there is a cluster of four at the right end, then several spaced 7--8 inches apart, and then a pair at the left end. An inch from the top, the backboard has a full-width groove, ½ inch high and ½ inch deep, which seems to have no relevance to the construction of the commode -- possibly from a previous use of the board.\r\n\r\nThe softwood back stiles each have a dovetail mortise at the level of the frieze-drawer dustboard -- though the dustboard itself does not extend all the way back to the stiles; from inside a gap can be felt between the back of the dustboard and the backboard.\r\n\r\nIn the back face of the back right stile (but not the back left stile) are four dowels -- at the top, and then at intervals of 4, 3½ and 3 inches below -- possibly to repair a crack in the stile.\r\n\r\nThe pine case sides are dovetailed to the pine top and bottom boards. The bottom board was apparently intended at first to sit about 1½ inches lower in relation to the legs, for all four legs are rebated at this lower level, and have then been patched to fill 1½ inches of the rebate.\r\n\r\nFrieze drawer is made of birch. Drawer-bottom fixed to back with dowels or plugged screws -- grain suggests plugged screws, but the plugs are very small in diameter.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Haupt, Georg","id":"A1348"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Mahogany","id":"AAT12221"},{"text":"Satinwood","id":"AAT12451"},{"text":"Walnut","id":"AAT12476"},{"text":"Gilt-bronze","id":"x35084"},{"text":"Marble","id":"AAT11443"}],"techniques":[{"text":"Joinery","id":"x36614"},{"text":"Marquetry","id":"AAT53853"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Veneered in mahogany, satinwood, walnut and other woods, with gilt-bronze mounts and a marble top","categories":[{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"}],"styles":[{"text":"Neoclassical","id":"AAT21477"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2010EH1562","2010EH1563","2010EH1566","2010EH1564","2010EH1568","2010EH1567","2010EH1565","2010EH1561","2010EH1560","2010EH1559","2017KE6907","2017KJ9715","2017KJ9737","2017KJ9753","2019LY8005"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"1","id":"THES263059"},"free":"","case":"PL1","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"1","id":"THES263059"},"free":"","case":"PL1","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"FWK3","id":"THES49462"},"free":"","case":"KEYS","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"1","id":"THES263059"},"free":"","case":"PL1","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"1","id":"THES263059"},"free":"","case":"PL1","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Commode","id":""}],[{"text":"Marble slab","id":""}],[{"text":"Key","id":""}],[{"text":"Drawer","id":"AAT40558"}],[{"text":"Drawer","id":"AAT40558"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Stockholm","id":"x29184"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"Another example of the Vasa sheaf used as a decoration in inlaid wood on veneer furniture is a chest-of-drawers from 1778, which bears the signature of Carl Gustaf Foltiern, an apprentice to Nils Petter Strenström in Stckholm"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1779","earliest":"1779-01-01","latest":"1779-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by John Jones","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"88.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"147","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"66","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Measurements taken from departmental catalogue.  Not checked on object","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"G. Haupt. hoft Schatulmakr: Stockh: 1779","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"1779","earliest":"1779-01-01","latest":"1779-12-31"},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"Swedish","medium":"Ink","method":"Hand-written","position":"Under the slab","script":"Cursive","translation":"G. Haupt. Royal cabinet maker: Stockh[olm]:1779","transliteration":"","type":"1) Signature","note":"1) Signature; Swedish; Cursive; Under the slab; Hand-written; Ink; 1779"},{"content":"'W [or M?] cb P[or R or E]...e'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Illegible chalk inscription on the back of the backboard"}],"objectHistory":"It is not known how the commode reached England. It was probably acquired by John Jones some time between 1865 and 1882\r\n(unattributed information in FTF files)\n\nA measured drawing of the commode was made in the 19th century while inthe South Kensington Museum which led to versions of the commode appearing in subsequent sales.\n\r\nA commode by Sormani of Paris, who is known to have copied other pieces in the Jones Collection, of about 1890 was sold at Sotheby's 6 November 1992, Lot 211. This was stamped <i>Sormani, Paris</i>, and had a brass label engraved <i>Paul Sormani, 10 r Charlot Paris</i>\n\nA copy of the commode appears to have been made in Paris in the late 19th century. See: Sotheby's sale catalogue; Lot 235; 26 February 1999 \ndescribed as having a stencil underneath \"LECOULLES/62 RUE TAITBOUT. 75009 PARIS\n\nAnother version attributed to Sormani dynasty sold Sotheby's New York, 21 October 2009 Lot 142\n\nA version by Joseph-Émmanuel Zwinger of about 1885 was sold by Sotheby's New York, 21 October 2009, lot 143.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Commode veneered in mahogany and other woods, with gilt-bronze mounts and marble slab","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"W.G. Paulson Townsend, <i>Measured drawings of French furniture in the South Kensington Museum </i>(London 1899), part 7 plates 62-65\n\nAaron Anderson, \"Georg Haupt - ébéniste du roi à Stockholm\" <u>Connoisseur,</u> CXXXIII, 1954\n\nLagerquist, M. <i>Georg Haupt Ebéniste du Roi,</i> Stockholm 1979\n\n"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Emilia, Lady Dilke, <i>French Furniture and Decoration in the XVIIIth Century</i>.  London: George Bell &amp; Sons, 1901, illustrated on plate opp. p. 160"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"Putti","id":"AAT250465"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Commode\r\n1779\n\nThe rectilinear body is set with gilded metal mounts of classical swags and the wavelike pattern known as the Vitruvian scroll. The use of curving legs in the Rococo style continued on early Neoclassical pieces. Haupt trained in Paris and London before returning to Stockholm as cabinet-maker to the King. The sheaf of corn in the marquetry was a heraldic emblem of the royal family.\r\n\r\nSweden (Stockholm)\r\nBy Georg Haupt\r\nPine veneered with mahogany, satinwood, walnut and other woods; gilded copper alloy mounts; marble top\r\nBequeathed by John Jones\r\n","date":{"text":"09/12/2015","earliest":"2015-12-09","latest":"2015-12-09"}},{"text":"Peter Thornton 1971\r\nCommode\r\nSwedish (Stockholm);1779\r\nInscribed in ink inside G. Haupt Kungl. Hoff Schatullmakr Stockh. 1779\n(G. Haupt, Royal Court Cabinet-maker, Stockholm 1779)\n\nVeneered with mahogany, birch and other woods and with marquetry. Gilt bronze mounts. Slab of marble.\n\nHaupt had spent several years in Paris, working with leading cabinet-makers for important customers like the Duc de Choiseul, before moving to London for a short period before taking up an appointmnet as cabinet-maker to the Swedish court in 1770. His style remained essentially Parisian; indeed this piece was thought to be French until the inscription was discovered. The vase shaped sheaf of corn was a poopular motif at the time, being an allusion to the Vasa Dynasty from which Gustavus III took pains to claim that he was descended, albeit almost tenuously. In view of the exceptional quality of this commode, it may well have had some association with the King.\n\nJones Collection.","date":{"text":"1971","earliest":"1971-01-01","latest":"1971-12-31"}},{"text":"(1922 Catalogue of Jones Collection\nCOMMODE, of mahogany and other woods, the central panel of the front decorated in marquetry with two cupids under wheat sheafs flanked by panels containing floral designs; mounted in ormolu, with ribbons, rosettes, scrolls and festoons. On top is a slab of variegated red marble.\r\nSigned by G Haupt, and dated 1779\nSwedish\nH.2ft 11ins, L.4ft. 10in. D.2ft. 2in\nPlate 47\n1108-1882\n\n","date":{"text":"1922","earliest":"1922-01-01","latest":"1922-12-31"}},{"text":"(1882 Inventory)\n\r\nCommode, marquetry of various woods, with figures of amoriniand garlands inlaid with satinwood panels and mounts of chased ormolu. It has two drawers, and a top slab of variegated red marble. Probably by Riesner. \nFrench. Period of Louis XVI\r\nH.2ft 11ins, L.4ft. 10in. D.2ft. 2in\nJones Bequest\r\n","date":{"text":"1882","earliest":"1882-01-01","latest":"1882-12-31"}},{"text":"Commode\r\nSwedish (Stockholm);1779\r\nInscribed in ink inside G. Haupt Kungl. Hoff Schatullmakr Stockh. 1779\n(G. Haupt, Royal Court Cabinet-maker, Stockholm 1779)\n\nVeneered with mahogany, birch and other woods and with marquetry. Gilt bronze mounts. Slab of marble.\n\nThe curving legs of this commode are survivals from the earlier rococo style but the rectangular body is set wtih gilt-brass mounts in the form of classical laurel swags and the formal, wave-like pattern known as 'Vitruvian scroll'. The wheatsheaf, which is the crest of the Swedish royal family , is supported by figures of classical <i>putt</i>i or small children. Haupt trained in Paris and London before returning with new style ideas to Stockholm as royal cabinet maker. \n\nJones Collection\n1108-1882\n\n[label written 1994]","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["1108:1-1882","1108:2-1882","1108:3-1882","1108:4-1882","1108:5-1882"],"accessionNumberNum":"1108","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1882,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Key","Commode","Marble slab"],"assets":["2019LN2220","2019LN9889","2019LN9065","2019LP8624","2019LU0473","2019LV3376","2019LV2851","2019LW0467"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-11-12","recordCreationDate":"2004-02-27","availableToBook":false}}