{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O157956"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O157956/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BU1720/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BU1720/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2008BU1720","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London/ © the Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London ","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BU1769","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London/ © the Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London ","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019MB5629","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O157956/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O157956","accessionNumber":"LOAN:GILBERT.294-2008","objectType":"Miniature","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The term <i>boîte à portrait</i> (French for 'box with a portrait') is a mystery, since these objects have nothing to do with a box. It likely refers to the leather boxes in which they were presented. Recipients of such presents in France were tacitly allowed to return them to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in exchange for cash. While such practices may not have been so explicit in the rest of Europe, the portraits were frequently dismantled and the diamonds sold. This example is an extremely rare survival and show how the practice was quickly adopted by sovereigns of other countries, especially in northern Europe. \n\nWhile the sitter in this <i>boîte à portrait </i>remains unidentified, the crown surmounting the frame indicates that it is an Elector, a ruler of a German principality entitled to vote in the election of the Holy Roman Emperor.\r\n\r\nSir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes.  Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.","physicalDescription":"Oval portrait miniature of an Elector, one of the German princes entitled to elect the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, shown in armour with red ribbons either side of a long curly blond wig. The minature is enamel on gold and the frame is silver-gilt studded with rose-diamonds hanging from a rose-diamond studded Electoral crown with traces of red enamel.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Khaetscher, J. M.","id":"A22424"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"enamel","id":"AAT14910"},{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"},{"text":"silver-gilt","id":"x37998"},{"text":"diamond","id":"AAT11084"}],"techniques":[{"text":"painting (image-making)","id":"AAT54216"},{"text":"gilding","id":"AAT53789"},{"text":"framing","id":"AAT240903"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Enamel on gold, silver-gilt frame with rose-diamonds and enamel","categories":[{"text":"Enamels","id":"THES48876"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Portraits","id":"THES48906"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2008BU1720","2008BU1769","2019MB5629"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"71","id":"THES49723"},"free":"","case":"CA018","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"miniature","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Dusseldorf","id":"x39948"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"probably"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1690-95","earliest":"1690-01-01","latest":"1695-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"7.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"4.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"1.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Measured 01/02/24 IW","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Provenance: Sale, Sotheby's, Geneva, lot 203, 11/11/1981.  D.S. Lavender, London, 01/10/1982.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Enamel miniature on gold of an Elector, in a silver-gilt frame with rose-diamonds and enamel, Dusseldorf, 1690-95, by J.M. Khaetscher.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Coffin, Sarah and Bodo Hofstetter. <u>Portrait Miniatures in Enamel</u>. London: Philip Wilson Publishers Ltd. in association with the Gilbert Collection, 2000. 168 p., ill. Cat. no. 34, pp. 81-82. ISBN 0856675334."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Zech, Heike.<u> Gold Boxes. Masterpieces from the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection.</u> London: V&A Publishing, 2015, p. 15, fig. 9. ISBN 987-1-85177-840-9"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Minter, Alice et al. <u>Masterpieces in Miniature: Treasures from the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection.</u> London: V&A Publishing, 2021, p.54, cat.28"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"1. Elector with red bow\n1690-95\n\nThis is a rare example of a type of diplomatic enamel portrait mounted in a diamond frame, called a 'boîte à portrait'. While the sitter remains unidentified, the crown above the frame indicates that he is an elector - a ruler of a German principality entitled to vote in the election of the Holy Roman Emperor.\n\nGermany, probably Düsseldorf; J.M. Khaetscher (active about 1690–1715)\r\nEnamel on gold in original gilded silver and diamond pendant frame\r\nMuseum no. Loan:Gilbert.294-2008","date":{"text":"2024","earliest":"2024-01-01","latest":"2024-12-31"}},{"text":"1. Elector with red bow\r\n1690–95\r\n\r\nEnamels like this one played an important role in court life. The image of the elector – a German prince entitled to take part in the election of the Holy Roman Emperor – is set into a jewelled frame. This is so that the wearer, probably someone in the elector’s service, could demonstrate their loyalty to him.\r\n\r\nGermany, probably Düsseldorf; J.M. Khaetscher (active about 1690–1715)\r\nEnamel on gold in original gilded silver and diamond pendant frame\r\nMuseum no. Loan:Gilbert.294-2008","date":{"text":"16/11/2016","earliest":"2016-11-16","latest":"2016-11-16"}},{"text":"Elector with red bow\r\n1690–5\r\n\r\nEnamels like this one played an important role in court\r\nlife. The image of the elector – a German prince entitled\r\nto take part in the election of the Emperor – is set into a\r\njewelled frame so that the wearer, probably someone in\r\nhis service, could demonstrate their relationship and\r\nloyalty to him.\r\n\r\nGermany, probably Düsseldorf; J.M. Khaetscher\r\n(active about 1690–1715)\r\nEnamel on gold in original gilded silver and diamond\r\npendant frame\r\nMuseum no. Loan:Gilbert.294-2008","date":{"text":"2009","earliest":"2009-01-01","latest":"2009-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["LOAN:GILBERT.294-2008"],"accessionNumberNum":"294","accessionNumberPrefix":"LOAN:GILBERT","accessionYear":2008,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"The Gilbert Collection, Somerset House","id":"THES50384"},"number":"1996.803.1"},{"type":{"text":"Arthur Gilbert Number","id":"THES50383"},"number":"MIN 38"},{"type":{"text":"The Gilbert Collection, Somerset House","id":"THES50384"},"number":"1996.791.1"},{"type":{"text":"Arthur Gilbert Number","id":"THES50383"},"number":"MIN 26"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2018LC0772"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-26","recordCreationDate":"2008-06-26","availableToBook":false}}