{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O123344"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O123344/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BD7170/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BD7170/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BD7170","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009CR7229","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O123344/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O123344","accessionNumber":"C.1&A-1957","objectType":"Tobacco jar","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Europeans discovered tobacco through their encounters with the indigenous peoples of the Americas who used it in barter and trade. Transferred to the new settlements in Virginia and elsewhere and cultivated with the labour of imported slaves from Africa, it became key to the economic success of the settlements and of Britain. Tobacco smoking was a popular pastime for British men who took it as snuff or smoked it in cheap, disposable clay pipes. ‘Ready-rolled’ cigarettes only became widely available in the 1880s.\r\n\r\nIn Britain tobacco remained strongly associated with black Africans and the apothecaries in which it was sold frequently used a wooden figure of a ‘Blackamoor’ to promote their wares. This tobacco jar, produced in Staffordshire, England, is in the form of a black child who wears an apron and is polishing a boot. In the 18th century it had been considered fashionable in wealthy homes to employ a black servant, especially a young boy, but by the mid 19th century, influenced by slave revolts in the colonies and the British anti-slavery movement, the fashion was less prevalent.","physicalDescription":"Earthenware tobacco jar in the form of a standing figure of a black boy wearing an apron shining a boot. The jar is hollow to the bottom of the boy's apron. The second boot, behind his left foot, may have been intended for a match or spill holder","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"earthenware","id":"x29356"},{"text":"lead glaze","id":"AAT233430"}],"techniques":[{"text":"enamelled","id":"x30139"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Lead-glazed earthenware, with enamel decoration","categories":[{"text":"Black History","id":"THES48989"},{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"},{"text":"Earthenware","id":"THES48964"},{"text":"Figures & Decorative ceramics","id":"THES48954"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"CER","id":"THES48594"},"images":["2006BD7170","2009CR7229"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"139","id":"THES49874"},"free":"","case":"30","shelf":"4","box":""},{"current":{"text":"139","id":"THES49874"},"free":"","case":"30","shelf":"4","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Tobacco jar","id":""}],[{"text":"Cover","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"Yes-general","note":"Term 'blackamoor'"},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Staffordshire","id":"x29181"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1840-1850","earliest":"1835-01-01","latest":"1850-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Collins Baker Gift","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"30.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"jar and cover measured together","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"19.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"jar and cover measured together","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"14.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"jar and cover measured together","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"22","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"jar body only","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"11","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"cover only (C.1A-1957)","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"13","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Cover only (C1A-1957)","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"10.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"cover only (C1A-1957)","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"NB. While the term ‘blackamoor’ has been used in this record, it has since fallen from usage and is now considered offensive. The term is repeated in this record in its original historical context.\r","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Tobacco jar in form of black boy cleaning boots, unknown maker, ca. 1840-1850, Staffordshire","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"servant","id":"AAT25874"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Tobacco-jar\nMade in Staffordshire, about 1840-50\nLead-glazed earthenware painted in enamel colours\n\nC.1&A-1957 Given by C.H. Collins Baker, Esq","date":{"text":"23/05/2008","earliest":"2008-05-23","latest":"2008-05-23"}}],"partNumbers":["C.1-1957","C.1A-1957"],"accessionNumberNum":"1","accessionNumberPrefix":"C","accessionYear":1957,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Tobacco jar","Cover"],"assets":["2021NA0065"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-05","recordCreationDate":"2006-04-25","availableToBook":false}}