{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O116756"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O116756/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AB9110/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AB9110/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AB9110","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O116756/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O116756","accessionNumber":"S.903-1981","objectType":"Figure group","titles":[{"title":"'Auld Lang Syne' figure group ","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This is a Staffordshire flat-back figure, a ceramic decoration given the name 'flat-back' because it was meant as a mantelpiece ornament and therefore had a flat, undecorated side which faced the wall.  Flat-backs were simple and cheap to produce, needing only three moulds for a back, a front and a base.  They were produced in vast quantities in the Staffordshire villages of Stoke, Fenton, Longton, Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley and Shelton, during the 19th century.\r\n\r\nThe inspiration for this figure group is taken from Robert Burns's poem <i>Auld Lang Syne</i>.  This was a traditional Scottish song, sung for many years before the birth of Burns (1759-1796), but Burns kept the name and changed both the words and the melody.  He wrote five verses but the first verse and the chorus are best known, traditionally sung in Scotland and other countries around the world to celebrate the passing of the old year and the beginning of the new. Various examples of this figure group were produced, all featuring three characters; some have a bottle on the table, and some, like this, have the central figure holding a jug or tankard.","physicalDescription":"Staffordshire flat-back figure group representing three friends at a table, the central figure holding a cup aloft and a jug in his left hand.  Each is dressed in a blue jacket.  The man on the right wears pink trousers and is bare-headed; the man on the left wears orange trousers, and both he and the central figure wear pink night-caps.  They are sitting in a cream alcove with orange drapes above.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"makers","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"earthenware","id":"x29356"},{"text":"glaze","id":"AAT15091"}],"techniques":[{"text":"moulding","id":"x46876"},{"text":"firing (heating)","id":"AAT53887"},{"text":"painting","id":"x30598"},{"text":"glazing (coating)","id":"AAT53914"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Glazed earthenware","categories":[{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"},{"text":"Figures & Decorative ceramics","id":"THES48954"},{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Scotland","id":"THES262877"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2006AB9110"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES355422"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"figurine","id":"AAT47455"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Hanley","id":"x32079"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1813","earliest":"1808-01-01","latest":"1817-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Harry R. Beard Collection, given by Isobel Beard","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"13.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"11.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"at widest point","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"9.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"of base","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"5.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"of base","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'E. Maye..... Hanley 1813'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscribed on brown paper tape adhered to the front of the base"}],"objectHistory":"The inspiration for this figure group is taken from Robert Burns' poem <i>Auld Lang Syne</i>, which Burns adapted from a traditional song.  There are five verses but the first verse and chorus are the ones known today:\r\n\r\nShould auld acquaintance be forgot\r\n   And never brought to min'?\r\nShould auld acquaintance be forgot\r\n    And days of auld lang syne?\r\n\r\nCHORUS\r\nFor auld lang syne, my dear\r\n   For auld lang syne\r\nWe'll tak' a cup o'kindness yet\r\n  For auld land syne.\r\n\r\nRobert Burns sent a copy of the original song to the British Museum with this comment: 'The following song, an old song, of the olden times, and which has never been in print, nor even in manuscript until I took it down from an old man's singing , is enough to recommend any air.'","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Staffordshire flatback figure group, representing Robert Burns' poem <i>Auld Lang Syne</i>.  Earthenware, ca.1813. Harry R. Beard Collection","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<i>Victorian Staffordshire Figures</i> 1835-1875 byb A & N. Harding, Book One, p.269, fig.972."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"O'Shanter, Tam","id":"N8104"}],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Burns, Robert","id":"N4710"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":["Robert Burns 'Auld Lang Syne'"],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.903-1981"],"accessionNumberNum":"903","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1981,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-09","recordCreationDate":"2005-09-16","availableToBook":true}}