{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O172538"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O172538/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM6358/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM6358/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM6358","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O172538/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O172538","accessionNumber":"959-1903","objectType":"Sketch model","titles":[{"title":"Finial of a fire-dog","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This is a model for two female demi-figures for the final for the 'Dog grate' irons on the 'Rape of Proserpine' fire-back designed by Stevens for Messrs Henry E. Hoole & Co Ltd.\r\n\r\nTwo female demi-figures, each supporting in her outer arm a heavy swag of foliage which crosses her body, and with the inner the central structure.\r\nAbove it rises a baluster surmounted by a gadrooned bowl out of which rise two intertwined dolphins.\n\nArmstrong recorded that 'In his designs for fire-grates Stevens so happily combined bronzes, brass and steel that he gave those articles a place among the finest of modern decorative works...The whole of the work which he did for his Sheffield employers displays to perfection that union of grave with power, of beauty of line with depth and coherence of expression which should be the highest aim of the designer' [Armstrong 1881, p. 12].\r\n\r\nA sculptor, designer and painter, Alfred Stevens rejected contemporary distinctions between fine art and design. From 1850 to 1857 he was chief designer to Hoole & Co., Sheffield, where he produced award-winning designs for metalwork, majolica, terracotta ornaments and chimney-pieces. Perhaps his two greatest works were the decorations for the dining-room at Dorchester House, London (about 1856), for which he made countless drawings inspired by the Italian High Renaissance style, in particular the work of Michelangelo; and the monument to the Duke of Wellington for St Paul's Cathedral, London, which was completed after his death. The two allegorical groups from this monument made a lasting impact on the New Sculpture movement.","physicalDescription":"Two female demi-figures, each supporting in her outer arm a heavy swag of foliage which crosses her body, and with the inner the central structure; the latter is decorated with a ram's head, a shell and scrolling foliage; above it rises a baluster surmounted by a gadrooned bowl out of which rise two intertwined dolphins.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Alfred Stevens","id":"A8886"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Hoole & Company","id":"A24521"},"association":{"text":"producer","id":"AAT197742"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"plaster","id":"AAT14922"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Plaster","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Architectural fittings","id":"THES48994"},{"text":"Household objects","id":"THES48939"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2006AM6358"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES395123"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Sketch model","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1855","earliest":"1850-01-01","latest":"1859-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"60","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This is a model for two female demi-figures for the final for the 'Dog grate' irons on the Rape of Proserpine fire-back designed by Stevens for Messrs Henry E. Hoole & Co Ltd;\n\nBought from Hugh Stannus, 64 Larkhall Rise, Clapham, London, together with range of other objects by Stevens, for £35. This model was included in a large purchase of material by Stevens in the possession of Stannus, a former pupil of Stevens who wrote a monograph on the sculptor in 1891.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Sketch model, plaster, for the finial of a fire-dog, designed by Alfred Stevens for Hoole & Co Ltd., England, ca. 1855","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Inventory of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in the Years 1903 - 1904. <u>In</u>: <u>List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, During the Year 1903, Arranged According to the Dates of  Acquisition with Appendix and Indices</u>. London: Printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office, by Wyman and Sons, Limited, 1907, p. 166"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Bilbey, Diane and Trusted, Marjorie. <u>British Sculpture 1470-2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum</u>. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 2002, p. 369, cat. no. 559"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Armstrong, W., <u>Alfred Stevens. A biographical study</u>, London, 1881, p. 12"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"female figure","id":"x43298"},{"text":"ram's head","id":"x42680"},{"text":"shell","id":"AAT11829"},{"text":"foliage","id":"x42645"},{"text":"baluster","id":"AAT3287"},{"text":"bowl","id":"AAT203596"},{"text":"dolphin","id":"AAT7937"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["959-1903"],"accessionNumberNum":"959","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1903,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-11-03","recordCreationDate":"2008-11-14","availableToBook":true}}