{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1743895"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1743895/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2023NJ2299/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2023NJ2299/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2023NJ2299","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2023NJ2300","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2023NL6441","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2023NL6442","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1743895","accessionNumber":"S.82-2023","objectType":"Undershirt","titles":[{"title":"Undershirt worn by General Tom Thumb","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Charles Sherwood Stratton (1838-1883), more widely known by his stage name General Tom Thumb was a significant celebrity and performer in the history of 19th century popular entertainment, both in the UK and worldwide. He  was encouraged by American showman, entrepreneur and businessman Phineas T. Barnum (1810-1891) to recite, sing and do comic impersonations dressed as various characters. Barnum took advantage of Stratton’s height, a result of his proportionate dwarfism, and engaged him to feature in a number  of his shows, exhibitions and tours. Stratton was a sensation when he first appeared in London’s Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly in 1844, and was invited for an audience with Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace, where he also performed.  His popularity in London and his depiction in numerous prints and publications says much for the insatiable appetite of the contemporary public for performers   from a variety of backgrounds, statures, and medical conditions, who were historically referred to using the derogatory term ‘curiosities’ due to their  physical appearance. In 1863 Stratton married fellow performer Mercy Lavinia Warren, who also had a form of proportionate dwarfism. They continued touring  and performing until his death following a stroke on 15th July 1883.\r\n\r\nThis undershirt was acquired by the museum from the same source, along with two miniature Napoleon Bonaparte jackets, a waistcoat and breeches, and boots. ","physicalDescription":"Brushed cotton undershirt without fastenings but with front opening edges turned back","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Cotton","id":"x30337"}],"techniques":[{"text":"Sewn","id":"AAT53658"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Cotton","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Costumes","id":"THES269529"},{"text":"Theatre costume","id":"THES268477"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2023NJ2299","2023NJ2300","2023NL6441","2023NL6442"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES402721"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Costume","id":"AAT209261"}],[{"text":"Shirt","id":"AAT212499"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca.1844","earliest":"1839-01-01","latest":"1848-12-31"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"S.79:1 to 3-2023","id":"O1733913"},"association":"Object"},{"object":{"text":"S.80-2023","id":"O1743893"},"association":"Object"},{"object":{"text":"S.81:1 to 2-2023","id":"O1743894"},"association":"Object"},{"object":{"text":"S.83:1 to 2-2023","id":"O1743896"},"association":"Object"},{"object":{"text":"S.84-2023","id":"O1743897"},"association":"Object"}],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"25.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Maximum length top of neckline to bottom of hem","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"18.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Maximum legth of seeves from shoulder seam to cuffs","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"25.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Maximum width underarm from side seam to side seam, measured flat","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This undershirt, along with two slightly different sized jackets, a waistcoat, breeches, pair of boots and a single boot, were bought by the vendor's father at auction in Taunton in the 1950s, but the vendor does not know its name. ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Undershirt worn by Charles Stratton (1838-1883), known as General Tom Thumb, possibly as Napoleon Bonaparte ","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Stratton, Charles Sherwood","id":"N7473"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.82-2023"],"accessionNumberNum":"82","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2023,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-27","recordCreationDate":"2023-02-10","availableToBook":false}}