{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1373039"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1373039/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MT0187/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MT0187/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2020MT0187","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1373039","accessionNumber":"S.665-2016","objectType":"Powder compact","titles":[{"title":"H.M.S. Pinafore","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The comic opera <i>H.M.S. Pinafore</i> opened at the Opera Comique theatre in London in 1878 for a run of 571 performances. Shortly after its opening, Richard D'Oyly Carte, theatre impresario and partner of Gilbert (librettist) and Sullivan (composer), formed the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. The group would forge an international reputation for the songwriting duo and, under the success of the partnership, led to the financing of the Savoy Theatre which became the home of comic opera from 1881.\n\nThe patronising of Gilbert and Sullivan operas was considered a mark of bourgeoisie status in British and American society, and memorabilia such as this powder compact were seen as  symbols of cultural wealth as well as items of fashion. D'Oyly Carte encouraged commercial activities at the Opera Comique and the Savoy Theatre, selling not only accessories but libretti, programmes and musical arrangements. This venture fused the pleasures of two leisure activities: attending a West End theatre, and shopping.","physicalDescription":"Silver gilt and enamel powder compact with mirror, depicting on its lid the performance of the song 'Never mind the why and wherefore', sung by characters Sir Joseph Porter, Josephine and Captain Corcoran in Act II of <i>H.M.S. Pinafore</i>.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"makers","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"enamel","id":"AAT14910"},{"text":"silver gilt","id":"x37998"}],"techniques":[{"text":"enamelling","id":"AAT53773"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver gilt and enamel with a glass mirror","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Accessories","id":"THES48998"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2020MT0187"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES355501"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"compacts","id":"AAT46266"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"20th century","earliest":"1900-01-01","latest":"1999-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Dame Bridget D'Oyly Carte","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"5.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Circumference","value":"16.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"1.25","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"The interior of the compact is stamped '925' and 'G S'.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"According to a typewritten note, the compact was purchased by 'Manders and Mitchenson' [Joe Mander and Raymond Mitchenson] from a shop in Notting Hill in May 1964, for the sum of £3.00.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Powder compact depicting a scene from <i>H.M.S. Pinafore</i>, 20th century","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.665-2016"],"accessionNumberNum":"665","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2016,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Archive number","id":"THES54576"},"number":"THM/73/34"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2016-11-21","availableToBook":true}}