{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O112284"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O112284/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BC3428/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BC3428/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BC3428","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BC3427","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O112284/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O112284","accessionNumber":"AP.728:13","objectType":"Cup","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The shape and dense structure of animal horns made them suitable for use as drinking vessels. This ox-horn cup is decorated with scratched hunting scenes and the initials ‘JRH’. It was shown at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London.  The Museum register records that it was in a 'case illustrating manufactures from black ox horn'.  The date of manufacture is not recorded, but it is probably 19th-century. It has a paper label on the bottom saying ‘Drinking cup Madeira 802’, possibly referring to  Madeira, the fortified wine.  \n\nIt is possible that cups like this one and another in the collection, W.53-1920,  were made by a single workshop operating from about the 1820s to the 1850s, most probably in England, although evidence about the location of such a workshop is currently lacking.The cups do not conform to the shape of stirrup cups used at hunts, so are unlikely to have been intended for use during hunting.  They are more likely to have been made as gifts.  Some, such as AP.728:13, are personalised with initials which were probably added by the workshop to order. The decorative technique is similar to 'scrimshaw', engraved work on bone or ivory traditionally carried out by sailors. \r\n\r\n\r\nItems from the Great Exhibition formed the basis of an ‘Animal Products’ collection, which was formed at the suggestion of Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria.  He advised on the formation of the South Kensington Museum and suggested a collection of manufactured items made of natural raw materials, divided into animal, vegetable and mineral categories.  The Animal Products collection was displayed at the branch museum in Bethnal Green, in the East End of London, when it opened in 1872.","physicalDescription":"Carved cow's horn cup, scratched with scenes of hunting and the initials JRH, on a wooden base.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"horn","id":"AAT11826"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Cow's horn, with scratched decoration","categories":[{"text":"Containers","id":"THES48972"},{"text":"Drinking","id":"THES48965"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2006BC3428","2006BC3427"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES302958"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Cup","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1800-1850","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1850-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"10.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"7.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"JRH","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"scratched on side"},{"content":"'Drinking cup Madeira 802'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Paper label on bottom of cup"}],"objectHistory":"This formed part of the Animal Products collection which was one of the original collections displayed at Bethnal Green when the Museum opened in 1872.  Much of the material came from the Great Exhibition, and the collections continued to be added to until 1917. Less than half of the Animal Products Collection survived by 2000.  Half had been transferred to different departments and half remained at Bethnal Green. In 2000 departments at the V&A were offered suitable items.  Another quarter of the original collection was transferred, the remainder was offered to the Archive of Art and Design, at Blythe House, along with the original registers.  BGMC kept a small selection of other items for display in conjunction with the History of the Museum information panel.\r\n\r\nThis cup was probably acquired from the Great Exhibition as it does not have a year of acquisition. Later additions for the Animal Products collection were given a museum number incorporating the year acquired. (information from Catherine Howell, Bethnal Green Museum). It was displayed in a 'case illustrating manufactures from black ox horn' and was described as 'drinking cup Madeira horn'.\n\nA similar cup in the V&A collection, Museum no. W.53-1920, has a silver rim with a hall mark for 1820.\n\nThere is a pair of similar cups in the Melton Carnegie Museum, Leicestershire, (L.H326.1980.1.0 & L.H326.1980.2.0) inscribed 'MELTON HUNT/DRINK AND BE MERRY'  and 'RETURN MELTON HUNT'.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Carved ox horn cup, scratched with hunting scenes, on a wooden base. English, early 19th century.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Probably. No date given in register.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["AP.728:13"],"accessionNumberNum":"728","accessionNumberPrefix":"AP","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-06-23","recordCreationDate":"2005-05-23","availableToBook":true}}