{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1258199"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1258199/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1258199","accessionNumber":"S.433-2013","objectType":"Phonograph record","titles":[{"title":"The Man Who Sold the World","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"Bowie’s album <i>The Man Who Sold the World</i> was released in April 1971.  The deliberately androgynous and theatrical cover photograph shows Bowie wearing a ‘man-dress’ by pioneering 1960s designer Mr Fish.  It was taken by Kieth McMillan at Bowie’s flat in Beckenham, ‘Haddon Hall’.  The styling of the scene was arguably influenced by the set dressing in <i>Performance</i> (1968), which starred Mick Jagger.  This cover was used on the UK and Australian releases -  the American record label instead used a cartoon cover, showing a John Wayne-style cowboy with a gun.  Bowie wore such a man-dress on his first tour to the USA in 1971, provoking a range of strong reactions.","physicalDescription":"Vinyl LP record for <i>The Man Who Sold the World</i> album by David Bowie.  Featuring a colour photograph of Bowie reclining on a chaise longue and wearing a man's dress designed by Michael Fish.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"David Bowie","id":"N7019"},"association":{"text":"performing artists","id":"AAT68931"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"McMillan, Kieth","id":"AUTH324040"},"association":{"text":"photographers","id":"AAT25687"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Mercury Records","id":"A28099"},"association":{"text":"record label","id":"x44605"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"vinyl","id":"AAT14502"},{"text":"cardboard","id":"AAT14224"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Vinyl and printed card","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES356677"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"phonograph records","id":"AAT28643"}],[{"text":"vinyl","id":"AAT14502"}],[{"text":"record covers","id":"AAT247936"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"recorded","id":"x44585"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1970","earliest":"1970-01-01","latest":"1970-12-31"},"association":{"text":"recorded","id":"x44585"},"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":"David Bowie / The Man Who Sold the World","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Printed on cover in italics"}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Vinyl LP record and sleeve for <i>The Man Who Sold the World</i> album by David Bowie, released by Mercury Records in 1971","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"David Bowie","id":"N7019"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"[G10.2 – label 3 on strip]\r\nKeyword: CONTRADICTION\r\n\nThe Man Who Sold the World \r\nDavid Bowie\r\n1971\r\n\r\nThis album cover represents Bowie for the first time as a self-consciously theatrical character. Wearing a man-dress by the flamboyant designer Mr Fish, with feminine boots and long hair, he projected a provocatively seductive and androgynous image. It was considered too controversial for the American market and replaced with a cartoon image of a cowboy carrying a gun.\r\n\nV&amp;A: S.433-2013\r\n\r\n[2D-1010]\r\n","date":{"text":"22/02/2013","earliest":"2013-02-22","latest":"2013-02-22"}}],"partNumbers":["S.433-2013"],"accessionNumberNum":"433","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2013,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-11","recordCreationDate":"2012-12-04","availableToBook":false}}