{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1790098"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1790098/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PD5313/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PD5313/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2025PD5313","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1790098/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1790098","accessionNumber":"WE.7926:1-2014","objectType":"Kettle","titles":[{"title":"Dancing Hours","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The ‘Dancing Hours’ is perhaps the most famous bas relief used by the Wedgwood firm.  It has appeared on a wide range of items in varying ceramic bodies. The relief is first mentioned by name in a letter which dates from early in 1778 from Josiah Wedgwood to his partner, Thomas Bentley: ‘The Tablets of the Dancing Hours are intended as frises to the marriage of Cupid’.  The source of these figures is a chimney-piece of white marble against a blue lapis ground, formerly in the Palazzo Borghese in Rome.  In the 18th century it was installed in Moor Park, Hertfordshire, the home of Sir Lawrence Dundas. The Dancing Hours depict the classical Horae who are personifications of the hours of the day. An alternative source of inspiration for these figures is thought to be a frieze of dancing figures of Greek origin dating from the first or second century BC, now in the Louvre. No definite source has been established.","physicalDescription":"Black basalt rum kettle with a relief frieze of the Dancing Hours. Engine-turning to the shoulders, bottom and cover. Grape finial to the cover.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"John Flaxman","id":"A1284"},"association":{"text":"modeller","id":"AAT25417"},"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":"moulded","id":"AAT53134"},{"text":"engine-turned","id":"AAT233401"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"black basalt moulded","categories":[{"text":"V&A Wedgwood Collection","id":"THES276060"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"WED","id":"THES270009"},"images":["2025PD5313"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"WDG1","id":"THES264736"},"free":"","case":"CA23","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"WDG1","id":"THES264736"},"free":"","case":"CA23","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"kettles","id":"AAT195349"}],[{"text":"covers","id":"AAT197210"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Etruria","id":"x33200"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1785","earliest":"1780-01-01","latest":"1789-12-31"},"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":"240","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"bottom to top of handle","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"265","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"handle to spout","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"200","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'WEDGWOOD' (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":"Bought J.A.Austin, £2-5-0, 1912","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Rum kettle, black basalt, Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, Etruria, ca. 1785","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"WDG1/CA23","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"23.09 Rum kettle with bail handle; engine-turned, the body ornamented with applied figures. Black basalt, c.1785\r\nGallery text written 2008.","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["WE.7926:1-2014","WE.7926:2-2014"],"accessionNumberNum":"7926","accessionNumberPrefix":"WE","accessionYear":2014,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Wedgwood Museum Accession number","id":"THES269972"},"number":"1098"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-06","recordCreationDate":"2024-11-05","availableToBook":false}}