{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1782758"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1782758/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2024NX0653/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2024NX0653/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2024NX0653","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024NX0646","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024NX0651","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024NX0652","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024NX0645","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024NX0650","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024NX0649","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024NX0648","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2024NX0647","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1782758","accessionNumber":"LOAN:AMERICASFOUNDATION.2036:1,2-2024","objectType":"Crystal Ball","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Crystal ball prop and stand, used in the film <i>Labyrinth</i>, made 1985.\n\n<b>Part 1: Crystal Ball prop</b>\nA clear, smooth glass sphere.\n\n<b>Part 2: Stand</b>\nA custom made bronze carved three-pronged stand. The stand is engraved swirling patterns and two small faces. One side of the stand is carved with an inscription reading 'TO DAVID LABYRINTH'.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"metal","id":"AAT10900"},{"text":"glass","id":"AAT10797"}],"techniques":[{"text":"Engraving","id":"AAT53225"},{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"},{"text":"moulding","id":"x46876"},{"text":"blowing","id":"AAT53932"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"<b>Part 1: Crystal ball prop</b>\r\nMoulded and blown glass.\r\n\r\n<b>Part 2: Stand</b>\r\nCarved and engraved metal","categories":[{"text":"David Bowie Archive","id":"THES394093"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2024NX0653","2024NX0646","2024NX0651","2024NX0652","2024NX0645","2024NX0650","2024NX0649","2024NX0648","2024NX0647"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"CA001","id":"THES410520"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"CA001","id":"THES410520"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"props","id":"THES267469"}],[{"text":"stands","id":"AAT39767"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1985","earliest":"1985-01-01","latest":"1985-12-31"},"association":{"text":"designed and made","id":"x39722"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"DBA/4/1/14/4","id":"ARC267655"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"LOAN:AMERICASFOUNDATION.2578-2024","id":"O1784945"},"association":""}],"creditLine":"Lent by the V&A Americas Foundation through the generosity of Jones/Tintoretto Entertainment Company LLC","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"14.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"Ball and stand combined","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Whole object","note":""},{"dimension":"Circumference","value":"26","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Crystal ball","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Stand","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"8.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Stand","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"TO DAVID LABYRINTH","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Carved into stand"}],"objectHistory":"The design for the costume and accessories of David Bowie's character Jareth in the film <i>Labyrinth (1986)</i> was collaborative process. It was spearheaded by Scottish costume designer Ellis Flyte, who had worked as an associate costume designer on Jim Henson's previous film<i> The Dark Crystal</i> (1982). \n\nFlyte remembered that 'once again the Conceptual Designer was Brian Froud. He brought to me many sketches of costumes from which my job would be to create and realise the ideas and also introduce new detail or interpretation. My first responsibility would be to David Bowie and to Jennifer Connelly, and then to the surreal costume ball. It has to be said that I employed a large team of people from pattern cutters and sewing technicians, screen print and dye specialists, special effect creators, jewellery designers and make-up and hair stylists (...) it is due to their continued hard work, originality and independent skills that we came to the finished product!'\n\nThe use of crystal ball props was integral to the character of Jareth in the film, who magically manipulates and juggles the balls, using them to present illusions or dreams to Sarah. However, the manipulation of the props was actually performed by juggler Michael Moschen, who achieved the effect by crouching below Bowie and pushing his arms through his costume. \n\nThe concept of the crystal balls is present in early designs and notes by Froud and Flyte. It is unclear who ultimately made the many crystal balls used in the film, or who made this custom stand. The stand appears to have been made after production, as a gift to David Bowie. ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Crystal ball prop and stand, used in the film <i>Labyrinth</i>, made 1985","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[{"text":"Film: Labyrinth (1986)","id":"AUTH401647"}],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["LOAN:AMERICASFOUNDATION.2036:1-2024","LOAN:AMERICASFOUNDATION.2036:2-2024"],"accessionNumberNum":"2036","accessionNumberPrefix":"LOAN:AMERICASFOUNDATION","accessionYear":2024,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"David Bowie Archive Number","id":"THES394108"},"number":"1986.3035.0054"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-24","recordCreationDate":"2024-06-11","availableToBook":false}}