{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O137798"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O137798/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AY6353/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AY6353/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AY6353","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O137798","accessionNumber":"M.35-2008","objectType":"Cake slice","titles":[{"title":"Cake slice","type":""}],"summaryDescription":"This slice is humorous and superbly executed. The classic antique trowel shape is brought up to date and bears the artist's personal imprint on it.  In a characteristically humorous approach, Appleby has interpreted the trowel as a spade for shovelling cake.  The slice is also heart shaped;  the Queen of Hearts is also the queen of tarts.  Playfulness and practicality are in no way incompatible, as Appleby proves, playing with ideas as well as with forms.  He added a further personal touch for the commissioner, Seymour Rabinovitch, by engraving a letter monogram <font -i>R</font> on the butt of the handle.\n\nMalcolm Appleby was born in 1946. He studied at Central School of Art, Sir John Cass and the Royal College of Art in London before establishing his studio in Scotland in 1969. He is a silversmith and metal engraver, known for his imaginative use of line and form.","physicalDescription":"The blade, heart shaped;  the solid forged handle loops forward before sweeping back.  The blade is engraved with a depiction of a lusty, earthy, gluttonous queen whose hair (or tiara) is in the form of a fleur-de-lis.  She clutches cake in both hands and her jewellery is composed of drip cornets and other pastries.  Her body and dress completely fill all the available space handle engraved with flowing scroll-work, the end with the letter R (for Rabinovitch) and the words, allegedly said by Marie Antoinette, \"Let them eat cake.\"","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Musgrove, Peter","id":"A17000"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Appleby, Malcolm","id":"A5742"},"association":{"text":"engraver","id":"x30813"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[{"text":"engraving (incising)","id":"AAT53829"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver, extensively engraved","categories":[{"text":"Eating","id":"THES48963"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Scotland","id":"THES262877"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AY6353"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"CA001","id":"THES388376"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Cake slice","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Edinburgh","id":"x28816"},"association":{"text":"hallmarked","id":"x32454"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1990","earliest":"1990-01-01","latest":"1990-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by the American Friends of the V&A through the generosity of Professor B. Seymour Rabinovitch","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"28.5","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"435","unit":"g","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"13","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Edinburgh hallmarks for 1990","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"Mark of Malcolm Appleby","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"The end of the handle engraved with the letter \"R\" and the words, \"Let them eat cake.\"","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":"Rabinovitch Collection Exhibition RF.2004/419","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Silver, Edinburgh hallmarks for 1990, made by Peter Musgrove, engraved by Malcolm Appleby, mark of Malcolm Appleby.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Rabinovitch, Benton Seymour and Helen Clifford, <font -u>Contemporary Silver;  commissioning, designing, collectiing</font>, London, Merrell, 2000, pp.28-29 ill.  ISBN. 1858941040; Catrin Jones and Vanessa Brett, <u>Silver:Light and Shade</u>, The Holburne Museum Bath 2016, p.26."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Jones, Catrin and Vanessa Brett. <u>Silver: Light and Shade</u>. Catalogue of the exhibition held at the Holburne Museum, Bath, 22 October 2016 - 22 January 2017. Bath: The Holburne Museum 2016. ISBN 978-0-903679-14-5"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Marie-Antoinette","id":"N1625"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"cake","id":"AAT255019"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"This collection of silver slices, all commissioned over a period of twenty years by Professor Benton Seymour Rabinovitch FRS, is proof of the skill and diversity of contemporary silversmiths.  Each artist craftsman has responded to the familiar functional form of the slice in an individual way, producing an astonishingly diverse range of interpretations.  Each piece becomes an enchanting, decorative work of art. Professor Rabinovitch established a close rapport with each artist, always encouraging a freedom of creative expression.  The response of these silversmiths has been not only to be strikingly imaginative but also to honour him by giving him their best work.\r\n\r\nThis collection is testimony to the significant contribution that one individual can make to supporting the craft of silversmithing.  After commissioning work from some of the most illustrious names in British and North American silversmithing, Professor Rabinovitch has very generously donated his entire collection to the Victoria and Albert Museum, through the American Friends of the V&A.","date":{"text":"2005","earliest":"2005-01-01","latest":"2005-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["M.35-2008"],"accessionNumberNum":"35","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":2008,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"previous loan number","id":"THES50326"},"number":"LOAN:AMERICANFRIENDS.62-2005"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2017JU8007","2017KM9414"],"recordModificationDate":"2023-11-16","recordCreationDate":"2007-07-23","availableToBook":false}}