{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O148328"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O148328/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BT4334/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BT4334/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2008BT4334","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O148328","accessionNumber":"E.2247-1990","objectType":"Badge","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Solidarity or Solidarność (the full title in Polish is Niezależny Samorządny Związek Zawodowy Solidarność, generally shortened to Solidarność) was founded in August 1980 at a Gdansk shipyard as the first free trade union in an Eastern Bloc country. It became the leading political force opposing the communist regime in Poland. Eventually the Polish Government was forced to negotiate with the Solidarity-led opposition, resulting in semi-free elections on 4th June 1989. This marked a crucial stage in the democratic transformation of Central and Eastern Europe.\n\nThe Solidarity logo was designed by Jerzy Janiszewski. The design was inspired by slogans written and stenciled on walls during the strike so is inspired by the grafitti of the workers. Solidarność was also the name of the strike newsletter and soon became the official name of the Free Trade Unions. The letters are intended to call to mind the shape of people joined together in a dense crowd. The logo quickly gained traction and spread across Poland and abroad. It became the source of a typeface called ‘Solidarics’ (Solidaryca) which has become an unofficial Polish national typeface. It is often used for logos and slogans which refer to Poland in general as well for content relating to themes of freedom and democracy.\r\n","physicalDescription":"Badge","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"polystyrene","id":"AAT14492"},{"text":"metal","id":"AAT10900"}],"techniques":[{"text":"Lithograph","id":"x39981"},{"text":"screenprint","id":"x36290"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Lithograph and screenprint on polystyrene; dye-stamped, metal and polystyrene","categories":[{"text":"Politics","id":"THES48908"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2008BT4334"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLC","id":"THES49171"},"free":"","case":"MB2D","shelf":"SH32","box":"GG229"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"badges","id":"AAT193994"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Poland","id":"x29083"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1980-1989","earliest":"1980-01-01","latest":"1989-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Badge, Polish Solidarity, made 1980-1989, Poland","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[{"text":"Solidarity","id":"V228"}],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"GROUP OF BADGES: POLISH SOLIDARITY\r\nMade in Poland, 1980-1989\r\nLithograph and screenprint on polystyrene; dye-stamped\r\nmetal and polystyrene\r\nSome given by Marek Garztecki\r\nE.2247,9,54,5-1990, 2241-3-1991, 2102,4-1992\r\nFormed as a trade union in 1980, Solidarity became a\r\nfocus of resistance to the Soviet-dominated Polish\r\nregime. Suspended by the Government in 1981, it\r\ncontinued underground until restoration of its legal status\r\nin 1989. The wearing of badges, with their symbolic\r\nvocabulary, images, phrases and references,\r\ndemonstrated allegiance to the cause of Solidarity.","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["E.2247-1990"],"accessionNumberNum":"2247","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":1990,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-12-16","recordCreationDate":"2008-03-27","availableToBook":false}}