{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1603864"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1603864/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MX0534/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MX0534/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021MX0534","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1603864/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1603864","accessionNumber":"S.216-1994","objectType":"Poster","titles":[{"title":"Poster advertising John Duffy & Sons Circus in Dunmanway, County Cork","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This eye-catching poster for John Duffy and Sons' Circus is undated, but the acts and the overprinted day of its appearance in Dunmanway as Sunday 10th October point to it possibly being 1937 or 1943. Cilla's Dogs that feature on the bill were active in 1939 when they appeared with Bertram Mills Circus, and in 1945 when they appeared with Harry Benet's Circus. Clem ('Superman') Merk (1900-1994) was the lion trainer who worked with his 'forest bred lions') in the late 1930s and 1940s. Dunmanway, in County Cork, was also where the Irish circus had their winter quarters in the 940s and 1950s.\n\nPhotographs of the directors of the circus John and James Duffy appear at the top of the poster above a list of the acts for the season - Gentleman Jack ('Pickpocket Speciality'); Ben Hur ('Whirlwind Roman Gladiator'); Clem Merk's lions; Haute Ecole by Josef Barry; the Truxa Troupe ('Europe's Most Daring High Wire Act'); Edward & Lilian ('Pas de Deux'); The Riding Cossacks ('Double Bar Act'); Trio Colletti (Continental Clowns); Elephants and Midget Ponies; Cilla's Famous Footballing Dogs; The Fabulous Glissons (' the only man who jumps on his head'); the Evrene Sisters ('Daring Trapeze Acts'); 8 Liberty Horses; The Great Kerfino & Partner ('Wonderful Dutch Balancer'); The Great Andoras ('Life on the Balance', featuring their 'Slide for Life'); Renowned Limbers (' a Symphony in Grace');   Montana ('Cowboy Wonder Horse'); The Pontenellas ('Acrobatic Gymnasts'); Dixie Den ('Irish Siging and Whistling Thrush'); Minoru ('Educated Pony With The Million Dolllar Brain'); the Silver Circus Band, and Clowns ('Prize Eejits Every One').","physicalDescription":"Typographical, pictorial and photographic poster advertising John Duffy & Sons Circus, ca.1940, printed in red and green on white paper and overprinted in purple ink for their visit to Dunmanway on Sunday 10th October, listing the circus acts, times of performance and prices of admission ","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Fodhla Printing Company Ltd.","id":"AUTH361536"},"association":{"text":"printers","id":"x31107"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"}],"techniques":[{"text":"printing","id":"AAT53319"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Printing ink on paper","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Circus","id":"THES261738"},{"text":"Posters","id":"THES252963"},{"text":"Advertising","id":"THES49001"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2021MX0534"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES345346"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"posters","id":"AAT27221"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Ireland","id":"x32424"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":"Fodhla Printing Co. Ltd., was based in Baldoyle, Ireland, and in Dublin"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca.1940","earliest":"1935-01-01","latest":"1944-12-31"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":"possibly"}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"99","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"36","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Poster advertising the twice-daily performance of John Duffy & Sons Circus, Ireland's National Circus & Zoo, in Dunmanway (Dún Mánmhaí), County Cork. Printed by Fodhla Printing Company","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.216-1994"],"accessionNumberNum":"216","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1994,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-06-09","recordCreationDate":"2021-04-06","availableToBook":true}}