{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O113792"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O113792/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HF3493/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HF3493/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2014HF3493","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O113792","accessionNumber":"S.1652-1995","objectType":"Poster","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This poster advertised an evening at London's Oxford Music Hall in May 1911 in honour of the music hall and variety performer G. H.Chirgwin (1854-1922), who was presented with a 'Testimonial' to fifty years in the business. Otherwise known as 'the white-eyed Kaffir', George Chirgwin started as a blackface minstrel but accidentally developed his trademark appearance of one eye painted white in a diamond shape. He would wear a very tall hat and long white coat over a tight-fitting dark jersey and tights. His act consisted of comic patter and much of it relied on Cockney humour and references. He also played various instruments, and sang songs, his favourite being 'My fiddle is a sweetheart'.\n\r\nThere was a crowded house for the Testimonial. Chirgwin began the evening performing some of his best-known songs, after which he appeared on stage surrounded by the committee who had awarded him the honour. The Testimonial - a large, framed illuminated address - was at the back of the stage and there were speeches, a presentation of a 'generous sum' which Chirgwin donated to the Variety Artistes' Benevolent Fund, and gifts of a specially-made instrument, a 'phono-fiddle', and a silver cigarette case.","physicalDescription":"Typographical poster printed in blue and red inks on cream paper printed with a blue border advertising a 'Testimonial performance' in honour of George Chirgwin at London's Oxford Music Hall, 5 May 1911.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Oldfield & Co.","id":"A14964"},"association":{"text":"printer","id":"x30811"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"Letterpress","id":"AAT178926"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Printing ink on paper","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Advertising","id":"THES49001"},{"text":"Theatre","id":"THES250537"},{"text":"Posters","id":"THES252963"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2014HF3493"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"009","id":"THES345152"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"posters","id":"AAT27221"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"Yes-general","note":"NB In South Africa the word \"Kaffir\" has been used as a strongly derogatory term for Black Africans. The term is repeated here in its original historical context."}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Camberwell","id":"x34709"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"AAT53319"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1911","earliest":"1911-01-01","latest":"1911-12-31"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"AAT53319"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Isabel Beard","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"76.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"51.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":" ","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"NB In South Africa the word \"Kaffir\" has been used as a strongly derogatory term for black Africans. The term is repeated here in its original historical context.\r\n'Black and white minstrels' or 'blackface minstrelsy' originated in the United States around 1830 and was based on racist negative stereotypes of African Americans. White performers used black make-up to darken their skin. Blackface minstrelsy played a significant role in cementing and proliferating racist attitudes. ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Poster advertising a Testimonial performance in honour of George Chirgwin at the Oxford Music Hall, 5 May 1911, celebrating Chirgwin's 50 years on the stage","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"The address of Oldfield & Co, the printers, is given on the poster as Camberwell New Road.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Chirgwin, George","id":"N4645"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.1652-1995"],"accessionNumberNum":"1652","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1995,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2005-07-01","availableToBook":true}}