{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1773437"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1773437/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2023NR0585/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2023NR0585/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2023NR0585","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2023NR0586","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1773437/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1773437","accessionNumber":"WE.11113-2014","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"'Ferdinand the Bull'","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"This Queen’s ware ‘Ferdinand’ figure was originally designed 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\nThe peaceful bull, decorated with flowers, was allegedly inspired by the children’s story ‘The Story of Ferdinand’ (1936) written by Munro Leaf during the Spanish Civil War. It concerns the tale of the eponymous bull – who rather than wishing to fight in the bullring would rather sit in the field and smell the flowers. This story likely resonated with Machin, a conscientious objector who was imprisoned at Wormwood Scrubs in 1943 for refusing to accept military call-up papers. ","physicalDescription":"Figure, moulded Queen's ware with hand-painted decoration; in form of a whole bull with head, body, legs and tail, with incised decoration of scrolls,  blue and yellow handpainted decoration on body. ","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":"earthenware","id":"x29356"}],"techniques":[{"text":"hand painted","id":"x39976"},{"text":"moulding","id":"x46876"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Queen's ware with hand-painted decoration\r\n","categories":[{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"},{"text":"V&A Wedgwood Collection","id":"THES276060"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"WED","id":"THES270009"},"images":["2023NR0585","2023NR0586"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES382854"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"figurines","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":"","id":""},"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.\r\n","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"176","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"77","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"333","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Figure, 'Ferdinand the Bull', Queen's ware with hand-painted decoration, 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.11113-2014"],"accessionNumberNum":"11113","accessionNumberPrefix":"WE","accessionYear":2014,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Wedgwood Museum Accession Number","id":"THES269972"},"number":"10696"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-11-05","recordCreationDate":"2024-02-26","availableToBook":false}}