{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1769458"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1769458/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2023NP5234/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2023NP5234/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2023NP5234","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1769458/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1769458","accessionNumber":"WE.11019-2014","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"'Taurus the Bull'","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"This black basalt ‘Taurus’ figure was originally designed by for Wedgwood by Arnold Machin (1911-1999) in the mid-1940s. Machin was born in Stoke-on-Trent and studied at the Stoke and Derby Schools of Art and at the Royal College of Art. During his association with Wedgwood, he modelled various figures for commercial production. \r\n\r\nWith the resource constraints during the Second World War, Machin was tasked with developing objects which could be easily manufactured by a scarce workforce. The bull met this requirement, made in two halves which could be put together easily. Machin also designed the ‘Zodiac’ lithographs, which again, could be easily applied by the lithographers in the factory. The first designs for the bull were met with scepticism by Josiah Wedgwood V, who reportedly said “I don’t understand it Arnold – but you are the artist!”. Despite this, the figure proved extremely popular, and remained in production for thirty years. ","physicalDescription":"Figure, 'Taurus the Bull', moulded and glazed black basalt with transfer-printed decoration; in form of a whole bull with head, body, legs and tail; body decorated with gold transfer-printed 'Zodiac' and star designs, neck and head with gold printed representation of a curly mane, solid gilded bands to hooves and horns.\r\n","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Arnold Machin","id":"A2623"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Josiah Wedgwood and Sons","id":"A1450"},"association":{"text":"manufacturers","id":"AAT25230"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"black basalt","id":"x30176"}],"techniques":[{"text":"glazing","id":"AAT53914"},{"text":"gilding","id":"AAT53789"},{"text":"transfer printing","id":"AAT53922"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Black basalt, glazing, transfer printing, gilding","categories":[{"text":"V&A Wedgwood Collection","id":"THES276060"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"WED","id":"THES270009"},"images":["2023NP5234"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES382854"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"statuettes","id":"AAT47455"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Barlaston","id":"x31989"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1950","earliest":"1945-01-01","latest":"1954-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"V&A Wedgwood Collection. Presented by Art Fund with major support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, private donations and a public appeal.","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"145","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"to top of shoulders","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"90","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"at widest point","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"365","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"head to tail","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'WEDGWOOD' / 'MADE IN ENGLAND' / '12AE' (impressed)","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Figure, 'Taurus the Bull', glazed black basalt with transfer printed decoration, designed by Arnold Machin for Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, Barlaston, ca. 1950","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["WE.11019-2014"],"accessionNumberNum":"11019","accessionNumberPrefix":"WE","accessionYear":2014,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Wedgwood Museum Accession number","id":"THES269972"},"number":"10695"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-11-05","recordCreationDate":"2023-11-27","availableToBook":false}}