{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O166424"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O166424/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BW4803/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BW4803/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2008BW4803","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BW4801","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O166424/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O166424","accessionNumber":"3553&A-1856","objectType":"Pair of firedogs","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This firedog and its identical pair once stood guard over a fireplace to prevent the logs from falling out. With its asymmetrical form it is an excellent example of Rococo bronze work. Ormolu is a form of gold-coated bronze, giving a highly reflective surface to firedogs, mirror frames, lighting and furniture. Powdered gold is mixed into a paste with mercury and painted onto the surface. The mercury is then burned off.","physicalDescription":"A pair of matt (patinated) bronze and gilt bronze firedogs. Black bronze sphinx (upper half of woman's torso with tail and claws) seated on a golden table with C shaped legs that curve inwards, decorated with a lion's head at its centre. The object is cast in four separate parts and bolted together.There is a long iron bar behind the decorative sphinx that would enable it to slot into a supporting ironwork structure.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"bronze","id":"AAT10957"},{"text":"ormolu","id":"AAT11048"}],"techniques":[{"text":"gilding","id":"AAT53789"},{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"cast bronze, gilded","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Architectural fittings","id":"THES48994"}],"styles":[{"text":"Rococo","id":"AAT21155"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2008BW4803","2008BW4801"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES405529"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES405529"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Firedog","id":""}],[{"text":"Firedog","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Venice","id":"x29237"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"probably"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1720","earliest":"1715-01-01","latest":"1724-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Ormolu, Venice?, ca.1720","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Limited edition","id":"THES48862"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"sphinx","id":"N551"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["3553-1856","3553A-1856"],"accessionNumberNum":"3553","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1856,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Firedog [1]","Firedog [2]"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-09-29","recordCreationDate":"2008-08-29","availableToBook":true}}