{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O16983"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O16983/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM8015/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM8015/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM8015","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AN4160","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AN4159","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2020MN7004","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021MY2686","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O16983/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O16983","accessionNumber":"CIRC.186-1966","objectType":"Claret jug","titles":[{"title":"decanter","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>This jug is the most traditional of the metalwork objects designed by Christopher Dresser (1834-1904) in the V&A's collection.  It harks back to the form of a late 18th-century chocolate pot, although in a thoroughly abstract style. The classical urn shape, the tripod stand, the high handle and the beak-like spout are derived from Neo-classical precedents, reduced here to their simplest outlines. Claret, a red wine from the Bordeaux region of France, was traditionally served at the table in the 19th century in a glass jug or decanter.<br><br><b>Design & Designing</b><br>Christopher Dresser is often regarded as the 'father of industrial design'. He designed utilitarian objects for the general public while making full use of the latest techniques of mass production. Dresser's most innovative designs were for objects to be made in metal. His designs for ceramics and glass often resemble plant forms in their shape, ornamentation or colouring, but his designs for metalwork objects tend to be fully abstract. He frequently employed symmetrical, rectilinear shapes and undecorated surfaces. This was partly due to the intrinsic value of silver and gold, which he specified should be used economically in order to make the object affordable. This is in keeping with his ethical attitude towards economy in design.<br><br><b>Manufacturing</b><br>Dresser was a prolific worker and produced designs for numerous manufacturers, including Hukin & Heath (about 1878-1890s), Elkington & Co. (about 1875-1888) and James Dixon & Sons (about 1879-1890s). Some of his designs were considered too ahead of their time to go into production, and six exist only as prototypes.","physicalDescription":"The artist's Japanese influence, and his keen understanding of geometrical form are clearly seen in this glass jug mounted in silver.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Dresser, Christopher","id":"A8351"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"AAT25190"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Hukin and Heath","id":"A9126"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"glass","id":"AAT10797"},{"text":"plate","id":"AAT11041"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Glass with silver plated mounts","categories":[{"text":"Glass","id":"THES48946"},{"text":"Drinking","id":"THES48965"},{"text":"British Galleries","id":"THES48985"},{"text":"Scotland","id":"THES262877"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AM8015","2006AN4160","2006AN4159","2020MN7004","2021MY2686"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"125E","id":"THES49214"},"free":"","case":"CA1","shelf":"","box":"10"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Jug","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Birmingham","id":"x28748"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"26/03/1879","earliest":"1879-03-26","latest":"1879-03-26"},"association":{"text":"design registered","id":"x29997"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"24","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"16","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: measured; 19/12/1998 by sf","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Stamped on the underside of the lid:\r\n'DESIGNED BY D<sup>R</sup> C. DRESSER'\nBelow: a registration mark for 1879, and the design number '2045'\nBelow: the letters 'H' &amp; H' and a stylised dove, the mark of manufacturers Hukin and Heath.","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":"'2' - stamped on the underside of one of the feet of the jug.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Designed by Christopher Dresser (born in Glasgow, 1834, died in Mulhouse, France, 1904) and manufactured by Hukin & Heath, Birmingham","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"glass with silver plated mounts, Birmingham, 1879, designed by Christopher Dresser, manufactured by Hukin and Heath.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"<i>Exhibition of Victorian & Edwardian Decorative Arts; Catalogue</i>, London, H.M. Stationery Office, 1952","id":"AUTH357924"},"details":"","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Turner, Eric, An Introduction to English Silver from 1660 (V&A Introductions to the Decorative Arts), London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1985.","id":"AUTH402135"},"details":"See p. 34.","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Lyons, Harry. <u>Christopher Dresser. The People's Designer 1834-1904</u>. Woodbridge, Suffolk: Antique Collectors's Club, 2005. ISBN 1851494553"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nThis is one of Dresser's most distinctive re-interpretations of a traditional form. He has emphasised and strengthened the handle by putting it on the same plane as the lid then continuing it down to become one of the feet.  This type of animal-like foot is a standard element used in several of Dresser's other designs.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["CIRC.186-1966"],"accessionNumberNum":"186","accessionNumberPrefix":"CIRC","accessionYear":1966,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LR1110","2019LP2419","2019LP2137","2019LR5844","2019LT9394","2019LT8802","2021MY3887"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-09","recordCreationDate":"1999-12-15","availableToBook":false}}