{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1790193"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1790193/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PD5324/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PD5324/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2025PD5324","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1790193/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1790193","accessionNumber":"WE.12515-2014","objectType":"Bust","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This bust depicts Roman Emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius (100 BC - 44 BC). It is made from Black basalt, a stoneware body that was developed by Josiah Wedgwood from the traditional local black pottery in the 1760s and introduced to the market in 1768. It was richer in colour due to the addition of manganese and also finer in texture and very hard due to the use of sifted ball clay and the use of a very high firing temperature. The new clay was ideal for finely turned shapes with polished surfaces and detailed modelling. ","physicalDescription":"Bust depicting Marcus Aurelius, moulded black basalt; truncated bust depicting a boy facing toward the left, with curled hair, wearing a tunic, impressed text on reverse 'MARCUS AURELIUS', mounted via rod, bolt and nut to a circular pedestal.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Josiah Wedgwood and Sons","id":"A1450"},"association":{"text":"manufacturers","id":"AAT25230"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"black basalt","id":"x30176"}],"techniques":[{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"black basalt","categories":[{"text":"V&A Wedgwood Collection","id":"THES276060"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"WED","id":"THES270009"},"images":["2025PD5324"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"WDG1","id":"THES264736"},"free":"","case":"CA24","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"busts","id":"AAT47457"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Etruria","id":"x33200"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1774 - 1780","earliest":"1774-01-01","latest":"1780-12-31"},"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":"400","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"260","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"of shoulders","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"140","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"From front to back of torso","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Wedgwood / & Bentley' (impressed on reverse of bust and on pedestal)","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 Shadford Walker, £30, 1918.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Bust of Marcus Aurelius, black basalt, Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, Etruria, 1774 - 1780","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"WDG1/CA24","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["WE.12515-2014"],"accessionNumberNum":"12515","accessionNumberPrefix":"WE","accessionYear":2014,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Wedgwood Museum Accession number","id":"THES269972"},"number":"1162"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-06","recordCreationDate":"2024-11-05","availableToBook":false}}