{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O156829"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O156829/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2012FG7937/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2012FG7937/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2012FG7937","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London/ © the Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London ","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FJ2637","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London/ © the Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London ","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FG3605","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London/ © the Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London ","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FG7943","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London/ © the Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London ","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FG3588","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London/ © the Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London ","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FJ2641","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London/ © the Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London ","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FJ2640","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London/ © the Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London ","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FG7942","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London/ © the Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London ","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FG3608","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London/ © the Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London ","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FG7939","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London/ © the Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London ","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FJ2638","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London/ © the Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London ","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FG3601","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London/ © the Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London ","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FG7929","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London/ © the Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London ","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FG3596","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London/ © the Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London ","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FJ2636","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London/ © the Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London ","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FJ2634","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London/ © the Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London ","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FG3606","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London/ © the Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London ","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FJ3118","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London/ © the Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London ","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O156829/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O156829","accessionNumber":"LOAN:GILBERT.860-2008","objectType":"Centrepiece","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This life-size naturalistic rendition of a mute swan demonstrates the skill of Goldsmiths working in the late-twentieth century. Four craftsmen in William Comyns’ workshop in London expertly chased, raised and modelled 11 versions of this table centrepiece by hand. This swan was sold in New York shortly after it was made. It is testament to the continued mastery of London makers, as well as their international standing. \r\n\nFrom the Greek myth of Leda and the Swan to Wagner’s opera Lohengrin, swans have a long and illustrious history in art and literature. This silver swan was probably inspired by the Bowes Museum’s swan automata, which was made in the eighteenth century by James Cox.\n\r\nSwans have traditionally been under the protection of the British crown. Although this was initially to ensure that there was enough swan meat available to feed hungry royals, it is now a conservation effort. Every year a ceremony called Swan Upping takes place on the River Thames, the Queen’s Swan Marker counts every swan to ensure they are not declining in numbers. \r\n\nThis life-like silver swan took pride of place at Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde's villa in Los Angeles, often adorned with a glass bowl of flowers placed between its wings. The Gilberts formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert transferred his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.","physicalDescription":"Life-size model of an English mute swan in sterling silver.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Asprey","id":"A19790"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Sterling silver; hand-raised and cast components, the surface finely hand-chased throughout.  The bill is parcel-gilt, the bill area and knuckles are oxidised.","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2012FG7937","2012FJ2637","2012FG3605","2012FG7943","2012FG3588","2012FJ2641","2012FJ2640","2012FG7942","2012FG3608","2012FG7939","2012FJ2638","2012FG3601","2012FG7929","2012FG3596","2012FJ2636","2012FJ2634","2012FG3606","2012FJ3118"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"70B","id":"THES413996"},"free":"","case":"CA010","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"centrepiece","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1985","earliest":"1985-01-01","latest":"1985-12-31"},"association":{"text":"hallmarked","id":"x32454"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"72","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"6/1/2012","earliest":"2012-01-06","latest":"2012-01-06"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"39","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"6/1/2012","earliest":"2012-01-06","latest":"2012-01-06"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"350","unit":"oz","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"39","unit":"cm","qualifier":"ca.","date":{"text":"6/1/2012","earliest":"2012-01-06","latest":"2012-01-06"},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Weight taken in 1985","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"& A Co plc? (Asprey & Co plc)","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Maker's / Sponsor's mark; quatrefoil"},{"content":"Lion passant for sterling silver.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Standard mark"},{"content":"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":"Assay master's mark"},{"content":"1985","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Date letter"}],"objectHistory":"The mute swan is a bequest from the personal collection of Sir Arthur Gilbert and his first wife Rosalinde. It was displayed in their dining room in Los Angeles.  Sir Arthur admired the swan both for the quality of the craftsmanship and the subject matter.\n\nAsprey & Co. plc existed from 17 September 1985 until 1 September 1998 when purchased by Garrard & Co.  The swan was probably based on the 18th century silver swan by James Cox housed at the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham, England. ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Centrepiece in the shape of a mute swan, parcel-gilt and patinated silver, designed by Neil Bulpitt (born 1958), modelled and chased by William Comyns and Sons for Asprey & Co., 1985.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["LOAN:GILBERT.860-2008"],"accessionNumberNum":"860","accessionNumberPrefix":"LOAN:GILBERT","accessionYear":2008,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"The Gilbert Collection, Somerset House","id":"THES50384"},"number":"2001.24"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2017JR8835","2017JU7478","2019LV2378","2019LW6179"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-01","recordCreationDate":"2008-06-19","availableToBook":false}}