{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1258532"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1258532/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GV2034/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GV2034/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2013GV2034","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2013GV2035","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2013GV2036","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2013GV2037","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1258532","accessionNumber":"C.97:1, 2-2012","objectType":"Box","titles":[{"title":"Family of Nations","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"The work of ceramic artist Stephen Dixon often provides a personal political commentary on current world events. This box, entitled 'Family of Nations', makes reference to the United Nations and its apparent inability to prevent civil war in the former Yugoslavia. The animal figures represent nations on the UN Security Council, the United Kingdom, France, the United States of America and Russia. The form of the box echoes that of a tomb monument.","physicalDescription":"Small box with a cover or lid, of low rectangular form, recalling that of a tomb chest. The box richly decorated with figures, masks, animals, symbols, and other images in the form of applied sprigs, with additional modelled ribbons and drapery. On the front surface, the inscription 'FAMILY / OF / NATIONS' is impressed. On the rear surface a helicopter and tortoise are applied as sprigs, the tortoise also having a modelled human head. Inside the box, 'ANNUS HORRIBILIS' is impressed.\n\nThe cover or lid, supports a scene of modelled human and anthropomorphic animal figures, and in each corner, a modelled animal head. On the underside of the lid the date 'DECEMBER 9|2' is impressed, alongside an applied rose and faux metal bolts with masks.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Stephen Dixon","id":"A15321"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"stoneware","id":"x30197"}],"techniques":[{"text":"hand-built","id":"x30324"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Stoneware, hand-built, with applied and impressed decoration, coloured slips and glazes","categories":[{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"},{"text":"Studio Pottery","id":"THES48889"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"CER","id":"THES48594"},"images":["2013GV2034","2013GV2035","2013GV2036","2013GV2037"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"141S","id":"THES49869"},"free":"","case":"35","shelf":"1","box":""},{"current":{"text":"141S","id":"THES49869"},"free":"","case":"35","shelf":"1","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"box","id":"x44081"}],[{"text":"cover","id":"x47856"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Waterfoot (Lancashire)","id":"THES257225"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1992","earliest":"1992-01-01","latest":"1992-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by the artist","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"24.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"With lid"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"20.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"With lid"},{"dimension":"Height","value":"14.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Lid","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"19.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Lid","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"9.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Lid","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"9.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Box","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"20.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Box","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"11","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Box","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Stephen Dixon describes 'Family of Nations' as follows: \"In general, the piece is about the United Nations, and its inability to act together to prevent the break-up of Yugoslavia and the ensuing civil wars. The animals are representatives of the major nations of the security council, Britain, France, America and Russia.\" Email, 28/12/2012 (RF/2011/115).","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Box and cover 'Family of Nations', stoneware, handbuilt and modelled, by Stephen Dixon, Waterfoot, Lancashire, 1992","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Liz Mitchell (ed.). Stephen Dixon: The Sleep of Reason. Manchester: Manchester Art Gallery, 2005, p. 12."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Unique","id":"THES48864"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["C.97:1-2012","C.97:2-2012"],"accessionNumberNum":"97","accessionNumberPrefix":"C","accessionYear":2012,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","box [1]","cover [2]"],"assets":["2019MB7045"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-09-24","recordCreationDate":"2012-12-12","availableToBook":false}}