{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O166903"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O166903/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AG9519/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AG9519/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AG9519","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O166903","accessionNumber":"S.2&A-1978","objectType":"Flask","titles":[{"title":"Bitter Sweet","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"There is a long-standing theatrical tradition of actors giving one another presents on the first night of a production, and one of these whisky flasks was given by Noel Coward to each member of the cast of his operetta <i>Bitter Sweet</i> on the first night of the show in 1930. The flask is shaped like a book, inscribed ‘With best wishes Noel Coward’ in gold leaf on the front and with the title 'Bittersweet' on the spine. One corner of the ‘book’ unscrews to reveal the mouth of the flask.","physicalDescription":"Red leather and gilt flask, with gilt corners, designed to look like a book. At the top of the spine, in gold capital letters, is the title of the play, <i>Bitter Sweet,</i>written as one word, and at the base of the spine is the name 'Noel Coward'. also in gold capital letters. On the front of the 'book', in gold, are the words 'With best wishes Noel Coward', reproducing Coward's handwriting and signature.  The top corner unscrews to reveal the mouth of the flask.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"metal","id":"AAT10900"},{"text":"leaf (metal)","id":"AAT11039"},{"text":"leather","id":"AAT11845"}],"techniques":[{"text":"leather-working","id":"AAT53941"},{"text":"metal-working","id":"AAT53946"},{"text":"gilding","id":"AAT53789"},{"text":"gold tooling","id":"AAT256003"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Gilt metal, leather and gold leaf","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Theatre","id":"THES250537"},{"text":"Leather","id":"THES49030"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2006AG9519"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"104","id":"THES49929"},"free":"","case":"CA022A","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"104","id":"THES49929"},"free":"","case":"CA022A","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"flask (bottle)","id":"AAT45671"}],[{"text":"lids","id":"AAT45712"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1929","earliest":"1929-01-01","latest":"1929-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Miss K. D. Hart","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"11.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"7.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"2.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'BITTERSWEET'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"'NOEL / COWARD'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"'With best wishes / Noel Coward'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"In Noel Coward's handwriting"}],"objectHistory":"RP 1977/2001","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Souvenir flask in the form of a book, red leather with gilt metal corners, with the words 'With best wishes Noel Coward' on the front.  Given to cast members by Noel Coward to commemorate the opening night of his operetta <i>Bitter Sweet</i> at His Majesty's Theatre, 18 July 1929","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Limited edition","id":"THES48862"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":["Bitter Sweet by Noel Coward"],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"First night gifts are a long-standing theatrical tradition. Noël Coward gave one of these whisky flasks to each member of the cast on the first night of his operetta <i>Bitter Sweet</i>. The flask is inscribed 'with best wishes Noël Coward' and one corner of the 'book' unscrews to reveal its top.\r\n","date":{"text":"2024","earliest":"2024-01-01","latest":"2024-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["S.2-1978","S.2A-1978"],"accessionNumberNum":"2","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1978,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"PeoplePlay UK number","id":"THES57603"},"number":"PPUK 1927"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","flask (bottle)","lids"],"assets":["2019LR0267","2019LT5659","2019LU2164","2019LX0132","2021MV0047","2021MV0048"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-09","recordCreationDate":"2008-09-12","availableToBook":false}}