{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O158283"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O158283/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CP2643/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CP2643/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009CP2643","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009CP2649","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009CP2647","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009CP2646","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009CP2644","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009CP2642","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009CP2641","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009CP2640","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009CP2635","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O158283/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O158283","accessionNumber":"S.1200&A-1984","objectType":"Property sword","titles":[{"title":"King Arthur","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This property sword was used by the famous 19th-century actor, Henry Irving, when he played the King in James Comyns Carr's drama<i> King Arthur</i>. The play was commissioned as a vehicle for Irving in which he could star with Ellen Terry as Guenever, and was performed on a spectacular scale at the Lyceum Theatre in 1895.\r\n\r\nThe sets, costumes and stage properties were designed by Edward Burne-Jones, who had created numerous art works with an Arthurian theme, including paintings and murals, and the stained-glass panels for Harden Grange in Yorkshire. Comyns Carr asked Burne-Jones to design the production while the artist was working on his magnum opus, <i>The Last Sleep of Arthur in Avalon</i>. \r\n\r\nThe sword is based on the 'Sword of Saint Maurice', held by the Weltliche Schatzkammer in Vienna. This was forged in the 12th century and used in the coronation ceremonies of Holy Roman Emperors. Its accompanying scabbard is earlier, dating from the late 11th century. ","physicalDescription":"Stage property sword and scabbard, copied from the early medieval 'Sword of St Maurice' in Vienna.\n\n<b>S.1200-1984</b>\nSword with wooden hilt and brazil nut pommel and short, straight metal crossguard, the crossguard inscribed 'CRISTUS. VINCIT. CRISTVS. REIGNAT. CRIST. INPERAT'. \n\n<b>S.1200A-1984</b>\nMetal scabbard with embossed patterns and crowned figures. Painted detailing. There are two clips for attaching the scabbard to the sword belt.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Burne-Jones, Edward Coley (Sir)","id":"A8203"},"association":{"text":"designers","id":"AAT25190"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"metal","id":"AAT10900"},{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"},{"text":"paint","id":"AAT15029"}],"techniques":[{"text":"metal-working","id":"AAT53946"},{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"},{"text":"embossing","id":"AAT53826"},{"text":"painting (image-making)","id":"AAT54216"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Carved wood and metal (sword), embossed and painted metal (scabbard)","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Myths & Legends","id":"THES49005"},{"text":"Theatre","id":"THES250537"},{"text":"Arms & Armour","id":"THES48992"},{"text":"Theatre properties","id":"THES286250"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2009CP2643","2009CP2649","2009CP2647","2009CP2646","2009CP2644","2009CP2642","2009CP2641","2009CP2640","2009CP2635"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"106","id":"THES49925"},"free":"","case":"CA006A","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"106","id":"THES49925"},"free":"","case":"CA006A","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"swords","id":"AAT37048"}],[{"text":"Stage properties","id":"x33279"}],[{"text":"scabbard","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1894-1895","earliest":"1894-01-01","latest":"1895-12-31"},"association":{"text":"designed and made","id":"x39722"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by the British Theatre Museum Association","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"111","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"sword","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"sword","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"94","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"scabbard","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"12","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"scabbard","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Property sword (broadsword) and embossed scabbard with painted detailing, a copy of the early medieval 'Sword of St. Maurice' in Vienna. Used by Henry Irving (1838-1905) in <i>King Arthur</i> by J. Comyns Carr, Lyceum Theatre, 1895. Designed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Sir Henry Irving was one of the great actor-managers of Victorian theatre. In 1895 he became the first actor to receive a knighthood. By the time of his death, acting could be regarded as a ‘profession’. His burial in Westminster Abbey was preceded by a service almost as grand as a state funeral.\r\n\r\n","date":{"text":"2024","earliest":"2024-01-01","latest":"2024-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["S.1200-1984","S.1200A-1984"],"accessionNumberNum":"1200","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1984,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN8828","2019LN8111","2019LP6669","2019LU9558","2019LW3687","2019LV8967"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-15","recordCreationDate":"2008-07-01","availableToBook":false}}