{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1322169"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1322169/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JF1237/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JF1237/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2016JF1237","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JF1236","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1322169/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1322169","accessionNumber":"B.98-2015","objectType":"Carte de Visite","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The production of Carte de Visite post-mortem photographs in Victorian England was an important  part of the remembrance of and grieving for the dead.\n\r\nWith high mortality rates among children, and the ever-decreasing cost of photography, these images became quite common. They are now a significant contribution to the historical imaging and representation of children. To modern audiences, the morbidity and sadness of these images can be striking and fascinating. This particular image is distinctive, for it eschews the normal conventions of a child laid out as though sleeping in a coffin or on a pillow. Instead, the baby is shown quite clearly on a mortuary board, a stark reminder of the reality of death. ","physicalDescription":"Mounted albumen print showing a deceased infant, wearing a white cotton gown and bonnet, reclining on a pillow as though sleeping. The baby's hands are crossed over its stomach.\r\n","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Maull and Polyblank","id":"A24385"},"association":{"text":"photographers","id":"AAT25687"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"albumen","id":"AAT11802"},{"text":"paper","id":"AAT14109"},{"text":"card","id":"x30344"}],"techniques":[{"text":"albumen process","id":"AAT133274"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Albumen print on paper, mounted on card","categories":[{"text":"Photographs","id":"THES48910"},{"text":"Children & Childhood","id":"THES48980"},{"text":"Death","id":"THES48970"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"YVA","id":"THES48593"},"images":["2016JF1237","2016JF1236"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES324061"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"photograph","id":"AAT46300"}],[{"text":"memento mori","id":"AAT257053"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1860-1865","earliest":"1860-01-01","latest":"1865-12-31"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Width","value":"10","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"6.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'MAULL & POLYBLANK / LONDON.'","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 front of card"},{"content":"'16940 / XX010'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"On back of card, written in pencil at the top"},{"content":"'MAULL & POLYBLANK, / Photographers, / 55, GRACECHURCH STREET, / 187a PICCADILLY, / and / TAVISTOCK HOUSE, FULHAM ROAD, / LONDON.'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"On back of card, printed in black"},{"content":"'No. 266'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Written in ink on back of card, at the bottom"}],"objectHistory":"Purchased by the Museum of Childhood in 2015 [2015/518]. Nothing is known about the subject of the photo.\r\n","historicalContext":"The dating of this image within five years (1860-1865) is possible as the photography studio, Maull  and Polyblank of London, dissolved in 1865. This studio were particularly renowned for their series of  portraits of Victorian celebrities, which was keenly collected. A full run of these portraits is held at the National Portrait Gallery, and many of the company's prints are held in the V&A.\n","briefDescription":"Carte de Visite; post-mortem photograph of a baby, mounted albumen print; Maull and Polyblank, London, 1860-1865","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"The photo was taken in London by Maull & Polyblank, which dates it to before 1865, as at that date the firm changed its name.\r\n","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"babies","id":"AAT189561"}],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"death","id":"x30761"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["B.98-2015"],"accessionNumberNum":"98","accessionNumberPrefix":"B","accessionYear":2015,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2015-09-23","availableToBook":false}}