{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O172990"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O172990/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017JU0107/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017JU0107/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2017JU0107","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O172990/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O172990","accessionNumber":"1455-1903","objectType":"Statuette","titles":[{"title":"St Barbara","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This statuette is by an unknown artist from the late 15th century from Germany and  represents the standing figure of  St. Barbara with a small tower in her left hand.\r\n\r\nSaint Barbara was a Christian saint and martyr. She is the patron saint of artillerymen, military engineers and miners and all professions who work with explosives. \r\n\r\nHer legend seems not to have any historical foundation behind it. It tells that her father built a tower with two windows where he shut his daughter in to keep her away from her suitors. Barbara persuaded the workmen to add a third window, which symbolises the Trinity.\r\n\r\nHer father later killed her. He then was killed by a lightning and that is why Saint Barbara became the patroness of all professions related to gunfire and firearms.","physicalDescription":"The statuette represents the standing figure of Saint Barbara with a small tower in her left hand.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"pipeclay","id":"x43337"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pipeclay","categories":[{"text":"Christianity","id":"THES48978"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2017JU0107"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES396306"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Statuette","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Germany","id":"x28873"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"late 15th century","earliest":"1450-01-01","latest":"1500-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"9.53","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Dug up near Cologne. Bought, 5s.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Statuette, pipeclay, St Barbara, Germany, late 15th century","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. 250"}],"production":"Germany - Siegburg - dug up near Cologne","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Barbara (Saint)","id":"N928"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"tower","id":"AAT3625"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["1455-1903"],"accessionNumberNum":"1455","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1903,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-09","recordCreationDate":"2008-11-21","availableToBook":false}}