{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1258196"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1258196/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GB4973/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GB4973/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2013GB4973","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2020MT0761","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1258196","accessionNumber":"S.431:1, 2-2013","objectType":"Saxophone","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Created by Hector Sommaruga (1904-1986) the Grafton is the only synthetic bodied alto saxophone in the world.  It was named after Grafton Way near Tottenham Court Road in London, the location of Sommaruga's first premises.  The idea to create a saxophone from acrylic was initially based on the cost, working out approximately half the price of a brass equivalent.\n\nThe Grafton was patented in 1945, with commercial production running from 1950 to 1967.  It was the model played by jazz musicians Ornette Coleman and Charlie Parker, and was also the model of the first musical instrument owned by David Bowie when aged 14.\n\n","physicalDescription":"Cream and transparent acrylic alto saxophone with brass components, mouthpiece and keys.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Hector Sommaruga","id":"AUTH323236"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"acrylic","id":"AAT14426"},{"text":"brass","id":"AAT10946"}],"techniques":[{"text":"molding","id":"AAT53134"},{"text":"","id":""}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Acrylic and brass","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2013GB4973","2020MT0761"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"U","id":"THES297002"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"U","id":"THES297002"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES355579"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"saxophone","id":"AAT42561"}],[{"text":"case","id":"THES251008"}],[{"text":"saxophone","id":"AAT42561"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1950 - 1967","earliest":"1950-01-01","latest":"1967-12-31"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"8.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"8.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"fanned out","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'John E. Dallas & Sons Ltd. / SOLE DISTRIBUTORS'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"'Grafton'","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":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Grafton alto saxophone designed by Hector Sommaruga, ca. 1955","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"[G2.4 – label 5 on strip]\r\n\r\nGrafton alto saxophone\r\nHector Sommaruga (designer)\r\n1950s–60s\r\n\r\nThe Grafton was designed by Hector Sommaruga in London and launched in 1950. It used pioneering plastics technology, and at £55 was about half the price of its brass equivalent. With its distinctive Italian styling, it was a professional, if fragile, instrument played by stars such as Charlie Parker. \r\n\r\nV&A: S.431-2013","date":{"text":"22/02/2013","earliest":"2013-02-22","latest":"2013-02-22"}}],"partNumbers":["S.431:1-2013","S.431:2-2013","S.431:3-2013"],"accessionNumberNum":"431","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2013,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-13","recordCreationDate":"2012-12-04","availableToBook":true}}