{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1277065"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1277065/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HB3346/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HB3346/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2014HB3346","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1277065/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1277065","accessionNumber":"ME.1-2014","objectType":"Woodblock","titles":[{"title":"Imam `Ali","type":""}],"summaryDescription":"This small carved woodblock was used for printing onto cotton, for a qalamkari textile. This popular visual tradition circulated dramatic narrative scenes on large textile hangings to audiences in coffeehouses and village squares across Iran.\r\n\r\nThe image is a portrait of Imam `Ali, a sacred figure of particular significance for Shi`a Islam. The Imam is depicted kneeling, with Dhu’l-Fikar, his famous two-bladed sword, laid across his lap. His face is veiled and a flaming nimbus surrounds his head: this luminosity projects the concept of the primordial divine light (Nur Muhammadi), which was specific to the Prophet Muhammad and his descendants, and was used as divine evidence of `Ali's entitlement to leadership.\r\n\r\nAs the Prophet Muhammad's son-in-law, `Ali b. Abi Talib (d.661 AD) is considered by Shi`a Muslims to be the only legitimate successor to the leadership of the Muslim community. The brutal treatment meted out to `Ali and his immediate family by Sunni Islamic rivals is recalled, commemorated and mourned in Shi`a culture to this day. This memorial practice has formed the basis of strong visual and tragic narrative traditions, especially in Iran. The late 19thC saw a rise in portraiture of `Ali, and his cultic image is still used in personal devotions.","physicalDescription":"Woodblock carved with seated portrait of Imam `Ali, Qajar Iran, probably 1875-1900","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Wood","id":"AAT11914"}],"techniques":[{"text":"Carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Carved wood","categories":[{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MES","id":"THES48607"},"images":["2014HB3346"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES344616"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Woodblock","id":"x35493"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Iran","id":"x30220"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1875-1900","earliest":"1875-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"15","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Woodblock for printing onto cotton, carved with seated portrait of Imam `Ali, Qajar Iran, probably 1875-1900","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["ME.1-2014"],"accessionNumberNum":"1","accessionNumberPrefix":"ME","accessionYear":2014,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-11","recordCreationDate":"2013-12-12","availableToBook":false}}