Design thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level E , Case W, Shelf 104

Design

ca. 1740 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This drawing is from a group of ten designs for pier glasses, tall, narrow mirrors intended to fill the pier, the space between two windows, sometimes surmounting a pier table, by Joseph Sanderson (about 1690-1747). He designed this pier glass in about 1740 and signed the drawing with his initials 'J. S' at bottom left.

On this design, the upper part of the frame is overlaid with a goat skull between festoons of foliage whilst the lower corners are moulded with scroll decoration. Above the frame is a triangular pediment, and at the base, a scallop shell on scrolling foliage is overlaid on the S-shaped running ornament. The design of the right side of the frame is unfinished to show that the frame could also be plain. Showing alternatives on one design is an economical tool of the professional designer who was emerging at this period of the eighteenth century.

This group of ten designs for pier glasses was formerly contained in a bound album of drawings, by different designers, assembled by Charles John Shoppee (1823-1898), the architect, between 1850 and 1880. It has since been disbound and the drawings sold.

Joseph Sanderson and his cousin, John Sanderson (d. 1774) were partners in building, and there is a possible connection between the designs and Barrington Hall, Essex where they worked. The Shoppee album contained elevations for Barrington Hall by Joseph Sanderson. The house was built for J. S. Barrington about 1740 and subsequently abandoned. Much of the furniture ended up with an unrelated family at Bradfield Hall, Berkshire. Amongst the furniture sold from Bradfield was a pair of giltwood pier glasses, now at the Treasurer's House, York. The pair of pier glasses is somewhat comparable to the designs.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Pencil, pen and ink and wash on paper
Brief description
Design for pedimented pier glass by Joseph Sanderson about 1740
Physical description
This drawing is from a group of ten designs for pedimented pier glasses by Joseph Sanderson in about 1740. Each design, signed with the designer's initials 'J. S.' at bottom left, shows a pier glass consisting of a tall, rectangular mirror, an ornate frame, surmounted by a pediment.

On this design, the upper part of the frame is overlaid with a goat skull between festoons of foliage whilst the lower corners are moulded with scroll decoration. Above the frame is a triangular pediment, and at the base, a scallop shell on scrolling foliage is overlaid on the S-shaped running ornament. The design of the right side of the frame is unfinished to show that the frame could also be plain. Showing alternatives on one design is an economical tool of the professional designer who was emerging at this period of the eighteenth century.
Dimensions
  • Height: 17.4cm
  • Width: 10.8cm
Marks and inscriptions
'J. S.' (In pen at bottom left. They are the initials for Joseph Sanderson.)
Object history
This group of ten designs for pier glasses were formerly contained in a bound album, the title page of which read: 'Architectural Drawings / Collected by / CHARLES JOHN SHOPPEE / F.R.I.B.A. / 1850 to 1880'. This is an album of drawings, by different designers, assembled by Charles John Shoppee (1823-1898), the architect, between 1850 and 1880. It has since been disbound, and the drawings were sold by Christie's in 1989.

Joseph Sanderson and his cousin, John Sanderson (d. 1774) were partners in building, and there is a possible connection between the designs and Barrington Hall, Essex where they worked. The Shoppee album contained elevations for Barrington Hall by Joseph Sanderson. The house was built for J. S. Barrington about 1740 and subsequently abandoned. Much of the furniture ended up with an unrelated family at Bradfield Hall, Berkshire. Amongst the furniture sold from Bradfield was a pair of giltwood pier glasses, now at the Treasurer's House, York. The pair of pier glasses is somewhat comparable to the designs. Linked as the designs arguably are to an existing building and furniture, they are of particular interest.

Historical significance: The rarity of designs for furniture before 1750 makes these drawings a significant addition to the holdings of designs for furniture in the V&A's collection.
Historical context
This particular architectural style of mirror, in the Palladian manner using columns and pediments was developed after around 1725.
Production
This group of ten designs were probably made when Joseph Sanderson and his cousin John Sanderson worked in Barrington Hall, Essex.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This drawing is from a group of ten designs for pier glasses, tall, narrow mirrors intended to fill the pier, the space between two windows, sometimes surmounting a pier table, by Joseph Sanderson (about 1690-1747). He designed this pier glass in about 1740 and signed the drawing with his initials 'J. S' at bottom left.

On this design, the upper part of the frame is overlaid with a goat skull between festoons of foliage whilst the lower corners are moulded with scroll decoration. Above the frame is a triangular pediment, and at the base, a scallop shell on scrolling foliage is overlaid on the S-shaped running ornament. The design of the right side of the frame is unfinished to show that the frame could also be plain. Showing alternatives on one design is an economical tool of the professional designer who was emerging at this period of the eighteenth century.

This group of ten designs for pier glasses was formerly contained in a bound album of drawings, by different designers, assembled by Charles John Shoppee (1823-1898), the architect, between 1850 and 1880. It has since been disbound and the drawings sold.

Joseph Sanderson and his cousin, John Sanderson (d. 1774) were partners in building, and there is a possible connection between the designs and Barrington Hall, Essex where they worked. The Shoppee album contained elevations for Barrington Hall by Joseph Sanderson. The house was built for J. S. Barrington about 1740 and subsequently abandoned. Much of the furniture ended up with an unrelated family at Bradfield Hall, Berkshire. Amongst the furniture sold from Bradfield was a pair of giltwood pier glasses, now at the Treasurer's House, York. The pair of pier glasses is somewhat comparable to the designs.
Bibliographic reference
Harris, John. A Digression on John Sanderson and the Rococo. Furniture History. 1990, 26, pp.101-113
Collection
Accession number
E.224-2005

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 12, 2006
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest