{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O154458"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O154458/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AY6334/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AY6334/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AY6334","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O154458","accessionNumber":"M.90-2008","objectType":"Server","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The server is a naturalist’s study that has yet been contrived to have functional capabilities. The green theme gives character to the whole piece. But the artist has a message: he brings his viewer up-to-date with a jolt-moves from 19th Century Arts and Crafts to the post-modern (expressed in Western terms) by the device of imposing the blade with grossly mechanical block letters.","physicalDescription":"The blade of this server recalls the scimitar shape-ubiquitous in 19th C. and 20th C. examples but rarer in latter day designer work. The server is a woodland scene: the brushy green enabled handle carries twigs and three leaves, and is replete with a coiled green tree snake, hidden in the leaves, and with stouter branches-a split stem-that grasp and embrace the blade. The blade itself is an etch imprinted in bold block letters with words-partake, consume, ingest, digest, binge etc.-that propose a serious alimentary exercise. The cloisonné enamelled, arched handle changes cross-section from circular to oval cross-section. It is held by a short round socket and a knurled butt plate from which the stem protrudes. The handle has a silver strap on each side and terminates inside a cap that decreases through three thin flat knurled ovals to a final silver button.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Butt, Harlan W.","id":"A22768"},"association":{"text":"designer and maker","id":"x34662"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"},{"text":"enamel","id":"AAT14910"}],"techniques":[{"text":"enamelling","id":"x37485"},{"text":"etching","id":"x39131"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver and enamel","categories":[{"text":"Eating","id":"THES48963"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AY6334"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"021","id":"THES408712"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Server","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"New Jersey","id":"x29028"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"2004","earliest":"2004-01-01","latest":"2004-12-31"},"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":"33","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"334","unit":"g","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Raised lettering on the blade includes the words:  PARTAKE; CONSUME; INGEST; DIGEST; BINGE","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":"","historicalContext":"Part of a collection of fish slices commissioned by Professor Rabinovitch from contemporary North American and British makers.","briefDescription":"Sterling silver and enamel, USA, New Jersey, 2004, designed and made by Harlan W. Butt","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Benton Seymour Rabinovitch, <font -u>Contemporary Silver, Part II Recent Commissions</font>, Seattle, RAB Associates, 2005, pp.44-5. ill."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"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.90-2008"],"accessionNumberNum":"90","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":2008,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"previous loan number","id":"THES50326"},"number":"LOAN:AMERICANFRIENDS.117-2005"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-06-05","recordCreationDate":"2008-05-12","availableToBook":true}}