{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1301584"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1301584/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MK1298/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MK1298/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2019MK1298","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019MK1299","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018LA2305","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1301584/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1301584","accessionNumber":"S.809-2019","objectType":"Drawing","titles":[{"title":"The Queen of Sheba in the \"Eastern Question\" Pageant","type":"generic title"},{"title":"Eastern Queens of the Ancient World","type":"generic title"},{"title":"The Ypres Ball and Eastern Revel","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"dOriginal artwork by Fortunino Matania (1881-1963) for publication on page 245 of <i>The Sphere</i> illustrated magazine, on 9th December 1922.  Painted in shades of black and white for transfer to a zinc plate for printing.  The artwork shows the Queen of Sheba in the \"Eastern Question\" Pageant, at the Ypes Ball at the Royal Albert Hall on Thursday 30th November 1922.  <i>The Ypres Ball and Eastern Revel</i> is described on the programme as \"A great reunion of those who served in the Salient and their friends.  Organised by the Ypres League in aid of their funds and to provide a Hostel and Club House at Ypres.  A percentage of the Net Profits will be given to Earl Haig for the funds of the British Legion\".  The event was under the patronage of HRH the Prince of Wales and the content of the pageant is described as \"<i>Eastern Queens of the Ancient World</i>.  Massed Bands of the Grenadier and Scots Guard.  Under the direction of Lieut. Wood, Scots Guards.  Pipers of the Scots Guards and Corelli Windeatt's Orchestra.  Doors open 9pm Dancing 10pm to 5am\".  The Queen of Sheba was the highlight of the evening performed by Princess Serafina Astafieva (1876-1934) and her attendants were pupils from her Russian Dancing Academy, which she had opened at The Pheasantry on the King's Road, London, 1916. Astafieva, who had danced with the Ballets Russes was the first to open a school of Russian ballet in London.","physicalDescription":"Original artwork by Fortunino Matania (1881-1963) for publication in <i>The Sphere</i> illustrated magazine in 1922.  Drawn and painted in shades of black and white depicting the Queen of Sheba in the \"Eastern Question\" Pageant, at the Ypes Ball at the Royal Albert Hall.  The Queen of Sheba is seen in the upper left corner standing in front of a throne raised up on a stepped platform.  She wears a bedlah style costume featuring a large feathered headdress and a long train drapped down the steps.  She is surrounded by attendants positioned on the steps.  Other particapants can be seen in various costumes in the foreground and background, including those wearing harlequin costumes and dress inspired by the medieval and restoration periods.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Matania, Fortunino","id":"A21460"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"pencil","id":"x30347"},{"text":"paint","id":"AAT15029"},{"text":"millboard","id":"AAT14233"}],"techniques":[{"text":"painting","id":"x30598"},{"text":"drawing","id":"x32498"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pencil and paint on board","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Pageants and Ceremonies","id":"THES253008"},{"text":"Dance","id":"THES252984"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2019MK1298","2019MK1299","2018LA2305"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES356621"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"drawings","id":"AAT33973"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1922","earliest":"1922-01-01","latest":"1922-12-31"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x30682"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"36.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"22/11/2019","earliest":"2019-11-22","latest":"2019-11-22"},"part":"unframed","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"27.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"22/11/2019","earliest":"2019-11-22","latest":"2019-11-22"},"part":"unframed","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'The Queen od Sheba in the \"Eastern Question\" pageant in The Ypes Ball in / Royal Albert Hall Dec 9 1922 p245'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscribed in pencil across the upper edge."},{"content":"'8\" Deep / <u>½ Line</u> / thin Rule / on<u> ZINC'</u>","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscribed in blue pencil on reverse, upper left corner.  Additional printing instructions in pencil on reverse, written unclearly and crossed out in blue pencil."},{"content":"'No. <strike>6</strike> 70: Dec 1922'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscribed in pencil on reverse, upper right corner."},{"content":"'THE SPHERE No.<u> 1194</u>'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Stamped in ink on reverse, lower right corner.  Numbers handwritten in ink."}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"The Queen of Sheba in the \"Eastern Question\" pageant at the Ypres Ball at the Royal Albert Hall, London, 1922 ","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[{"text":"Royal Albert Hall","id":"x34706"}],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Astafieva, Serafina","id":"N15579"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.809-2019"],"accessionNumberNum":"809","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2019,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-24","recordCreationDate":"2014-10-14","availableToBook":true}}