{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1779695"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1779695/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PC5807/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PC5807/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2025PC5807","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PC5810","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PC5809","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PC5808","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PC5611","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PC5614","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PC5613","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PC5612","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1779695/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1779695","accessionNumber":"M.27-2024","objectType":"Ring ","titles":[{"title":"'Coriolis' ring","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"Castro Smith is an award-winning hand engraver and jeweller based at Cockpit Studios, London. He is best known for his signet rings which feature intricate designs inspired by mythology, anatomy and natural history and showcase his skill in European and Japanese engraving techniques. \n\r\nSmith trained as a painter and printmaker and was initially interested in pursuing a career in computer game design. By chance, he saw an advertisement for a Goldsmith’s Company apprenticeship at R.H. Wilkins in Hatton Garden and applied, attracted by the possibility of combining illustration with making. During his apprenticeship he was taught the technique of seal engraving, also known as intaglio, which is the craft of carving a design by hand into precious metal or stone. Smith learned to use a range of small chisels, known as gravers, which are handmade and sharpened to produce different cuts and textures. These tools are used to pare away the metal and Smith now makes his own to achieve the desired image or effect. \n\r\nIn 2017, Smith was awarded the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust scholarship and travelled to Japan to study under the guidance of master silversmith, Hiroshi Suzuki; metalwork designer and engraver, Kashima Kazuo and Mamoru Nakagawa, a recipient of the Order of the Sacred Treasure (2004) who is celebrated for his outstanding mastery of zōgan (where designs are cut into the surface of a piece and inlaid with a different metal of contrasting colour or texture). On his return from Japan, Smith spent three years based at Sarabande, the foundation set up by the late designer, Lee Alexander McQueen in 2006. \n\nThe design of this ring is inspired by the Coriolis effect, a term invented by Gaspard-Gustave de Coriolis (1792-1843) who formulated theories of fluid dynamics through studying waterwheels and realised the same theories could be applied to the motion of fluids on the surface of the Earth. Smith's ring features intricate engravings that signify this movement of air and water.\r\n","physicalDescription":"A silver ring with  intricate engraving over its entire outer surface. The ring is surmounted by an orb cradled by a setting with an irregular shaped edge, the inside of which has dark blue enamel.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Smith, Castro","id":"AUTH390301"},"association":{"text":"designer and maker","id":"x34662"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[{"text":"enamelling","id":"x37485"},{"text":"engraving (incising)","id":"AAT53829"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silversmithing, engraving and enamelling","categories":[{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2025PC5807","2025PC5810","2025PC5809","2025PC5808","2025PC5611","2025PC5614","2025PC5613","2025PC5612"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"91","id":"THES49703"},"free":"","case":"43","shelf":"B","box":"10"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"ring","id":"x43339"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"Designed and made","id":"x39722"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"2024","earliest":"2024-01-01","latest":"2024-12-31"},"association":{"text":"Made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"30","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"bezel","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"38","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"bezel and band","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"15","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"bezel","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This ring was purchased from Collect London in 2024","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"'Coriolis' engraved ring designed and made by Castro Smith, rhodium-plated silver, 2024.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Unique","id":"THES48864"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"Water","id":"x47333"},{"text":"Air","id":"x47332"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.27-2024"],"accessionNumberNum":"27","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":2024,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-19","recordCreationDate":"2024-05-09","availableToBook":false}}