{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O175602"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O175602/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017JU0120/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017JU0120/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2017JU0120","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O175602/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O175602","accessionNumber":"1583-1903","objectType":"Statuette","titles":[{"title":"St Barbara","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This statuette -  the standing figure of St. Barbara, supporting a tower on her left hand - is by an unknown artist from Siegburg in Germany made in the second half of the 15th century.\r\n\r\nIt is made of pipeclay, which is a fine white clay also 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 pipe-clay figures were also fired.\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\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":"Standing figure of St. Barbara, supporting a tower on 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":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Christianity","id":"THES48978"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2017JU0120"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES396304"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Statuette","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Siegburg","id":"x39178"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"second half 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":"Bought from Thewalt Collection.","historicalContext":"Siegburg was a centre of ceramic production with well-organised workshops and kilns in which pipeclay figures were also fired.","briefDescription":"Statuette, pipeclay, St. Barbara, Germany (Siegburg), second half of 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. 269"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"St. Barbara","id":"N2819"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"tower","id":"AAT3625"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["1583-1903"],"accessionNumberNum":"1583","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1903,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-09","recordCreationDate":"2008-11-25","availableToBook":false}}