{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O173148"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O173148/"}},"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},{"assetRef":"2017JU0123","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O173148/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O173148","accessionNumber":"1460-1903","objectType":"Statuette","titles":[{"title":"St Barbara","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This satuette is made in the late 15th century by an unknown artist from Germany.\r\n\r\nThe statuette represents the standing figure of Saint Barbara holding a tower in her right hand and a branch in her left.\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 working 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. Later he even killed her. Barbara persuaded the workmen to add a third window to the tower, which symbolises the Trinity.\r\n\r\nThe father himself was then killed by a lightning and that is why Saint Barbara became the patroness of all professions related to gunfire and firearms.\r\n\r\nThe statuette is made of pipeclay, which is a fine white clay used to make tobacco pipes and pottery. Conveniently situated on a major trading route, Siegburg was a centre of ceramic production with well-organised workshops and kilns in which also  pipe-clay figures were fired.","physicalDescription":"Standing figure of the saint holding a tower in her right hand and a branch in her left","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","2017JU0123"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES396110"},"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":"11.43","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","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"St. Barbara","id":"N2819"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["1460-1903"],"accessionNumberNum":"1460","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1903,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-06-10","recordCreationDate":"2008-11-21","availableToBook":false}}