{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O106544"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O106544/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF1536/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF1536/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AF1536","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O106544/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O106544","accessionNumber":"1817-1869","objectType":"Intaglio","titles":[{"title":"Warrior with trophy of arms","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The art of engraving gemstones can be traced back to ancient Greece in the 8th century BC and earlier. Techniques passed down to the Egyptians and then to the Romans. There were major revivals of interest in engraved gems in Europe during the Byantine era, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and again in the 18th and 19th centuries. At each stage cameos and intaglios, these skillful carvings on a minute scale, were much prized and collected, sometimes as symbols of power mounted in jewelled settings, sometimes as small objects for private devotion or enjoyment. The style and method of engraving in this little ringstone indicate that it was made in the Graeco-Roman world, some time during the century before the birth of Christ.\nEngraved gemstones based on classical  models were widely produced and collected in Italy in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Many were brought back by British Grand Tourists, and important collections were formed.","physicalDescription":"Vertical oval intaglio. Depicting a warrior with a trophy of arms. The warrior stands at the right, naked except for a cloak draped over his right shoulder and hanging down. He holds a long spear in his left hand. Beside him is a collection of arms topped by a helmet, and with a shield leaning up at the bottom. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"layered agate","id":"x42446"},{"text":"nicolo","id":"x44430"},{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"},{"text":"gemstone","id":"AAT201964"},{"text":"microquartz","id":"x43759"}],"techniques":[{"text":"gem-engraving","id":"x41224"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Engraved gemstone set in a gold ring; Pale mottled blue over black layered agate variety 'nicolo'.","categories":[{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Gemstones","id":"THES270329"}],"styles":[{"text":"Graeco-Roman","id":"x37638"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2006AF1536"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"033","id":"THES395778"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Intaglio","id":""}],[{"text":"Ring","id":"x43339"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Italy","id":"x28927"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"100BC-0 BC","earliest":"-0100-01-01","latest":"-0001-01-01"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""},{"date":{"text":"19th century","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"alteration","id":"AAT105442"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Townshend Bequest","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"12","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"approximate","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"9.9","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"approximate","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Exact dimensions obscured by setting","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This gem was part of the collection of the Reverend Chauncy Hare Townshend (1798-1868), who bequeathed his important collection to the South Kensington Museum in 1869. Although the gemstone collection is not as comprehensive as that found at the Natural History Museum in London, it is of particular historic interest as its formation pre-dates the development of many synthetic stones and artificial enhancements. All the stones were mounted as rings before they came to the Museum. Some are held in the Sculpture Section, other more elaborately mounted ones in the Metalwork Section.\r\n\r\nAs well as being a clergyman, collector and dillettante, the Reverend Townshend wrote poetry. He met Robert Southey in 1815 and through him the Wordsworths, the Coleridges and John Clare. He was a friend of Charles Dickens and dedicatee of his novel 'Great Expectations'.","historicalContext":"Engraved gemstones based on classical models were widely produced and collected in Italy in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Many were brought back by British Grand Tourists, and important collections were formed.","briefDescription":"Intaglio, oval layered agate variety 'nicolo', depicting a warrior with a trophy of arms, Italy, 100BC-0 BC in 19th century gold ring","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<font -u>List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington, Acquired During the Year 1869, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition.</font> London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., p. 127"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Machell Cox, E., <u>Victoria & Albert Museum Catalogue of Engraved Gems.</u> London, Typescript, 1935, Part 2, Section 2, p. 295"}],"production":"Attribution note: Layered agate, variety 'nicolo'. Pale mottled blue layer over black (J. Whalley May 2009).","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["1817-1869"],"accessionNumberNum":"1817","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1869,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-04","recordCreationDate":"2004-10-19","availableToBook":true}}