A Miscellaneous Collection of Original Designs, made, and for the most part executed, during an extensive Practice of many years in the first line of his Profession, by John Linnell, Upholsterer Carver & Cabinet Maker. Selected from his Portfolio's at his Decease, by C. H. Tatham Architect. AD 1800. thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level E , Case W, Shelf 8, Box C6

A Miscellaneous Collection of Original Designs, made, and for the most part executed, during an extensive Practice of many years in the first line of his Profession, by John Linnell, Upholsterer Carver & Cabinet Maker. Selected from his Portfolio's at his Decease, by C. H. Tatham Architect. AD 1800.

Drawing
ca. 1762 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This design is one of several designs for the same sofas for the 1st Baron Scarsdale at Kedleston Hall. The sofas took three years to make and arrived in 1765.

John Linnell (1729-1796) was the son of the famous furniture maker William Linnell (ca. 1703-1763). Unlike most furniture makers, John Linnell gained a design education at the St. Martin's Lane Academy, which was founded by William Hogarth in 1735. In 1750, aged 21, he joined his father's firm as a designer. On his father's death in 1763, John Linnell took over the family firm. During his lifetime John Linnell produced high quality furniture, which rivalled that of other leading furniture makers such as Thomas Chippendale, John Cobb and William Ince and John Mayhew.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleA Miscellaneous Collection of Original Designs, made, and for the most part executed, during an extensive Practice of many years in the first line of his Profession, by John Linnell, Upholsterer Carver & Cabinet Maker. Selected from his Portfolio's at his Decease, by C. H. Tatham Architect. AD 1800. (series title)
Materials and techniques
Ink, pencil and red and yellow watercolour
Brief description
Design for a nautically themed sofa for Kedleston Hall; John Linnell, ca.1762
Physical description
Design for the large pair of sofas at Kedleston Hall, upholstered in red. The central medallion features three figures and has a festoon of laurels underneath. The frame of the sofa features neoclassical carving. The supports are nautically themed. The left is a mermaid playing a harp made from a scallop shell. The right support is a merman who blows a horn made from a shell.
Dimensions
  • Height: 197mm
  • Width: 437mm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'J Linnell'
  • 'Plate 8'
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Summary
This design is one of several designs for the same sofas for the 1st Baron Scarsdale at Kedleston Hall. The sofas took three years to make and arrived in 1765.

John Linnell (1729-1796) was the son of the famous furniture maker William Linnell (ca. 1703-1763). Unlike most furniture makers, John Linnell gained a design education at the St. Martin's Lane Academy, which was founded by William Hogarth in 1735. In 1750, aged 21, he joined his father's firm as a designer. On his father's death in 1763, John Linnell took over the family firm. During his lifetime John Linnell produced high quality furniture, which rivalled that of other leading furniture makers such as Thomas Chippendale, John Cobb and William Ince and John Mayhew.
Associated objects
Bibliographic references
  • Helena Hayward and Pat Kirkham,William and John Linnell; eighteenth century London furniture makers (London, ca. 1980), pp. 123 (v2), 21, 22, 61, 111 (v1).
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1929, London: Board of Education, 1930.
Collection
Accession number
E.138-1929

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
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