{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O179263"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O179263/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MB9693/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MB9693/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2019MB9693","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019MB9694","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KB8432","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O179263/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O179263","accessionNumber":"828-1905","objectType":"Plaque","titles":[{"title":"Nereid","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This plaque representing a Nereid is of Egyptian origin from the 3rd or 4th century (Coptic / late Antique) and was intended for applying to a casket.\r\n\r\nIn Greek mythology, the Nereids are the 50 sea nymphs, daughters of Nereus and Doris.\r\n\r\nSimilar carvings, many of  which follow the more or less convex curve of the bone, have been found in great quantities, chiefly in the district of Alexandria. The figure subjects are usually taken from mythology and are similar to those on textiles, but occasionally biblical scenes occur. The carvings were probably used in the decoration of wooden caskets.\r\n\r\nCoptic refers to the Copts, which are Christian Egyptians with ancient origins dating back to the first century.","physicalDescription":"Rectangular and flat. On the right is a nude figure of the Nereid, her head turned back, her left elbow supported on a rock covered by a skin (?); a drapery, covering her right leg, passes below the body and behind the head, its end being held by the outstretched right hand. A narrow, raised border surrounds the plaque, the left half of which is broken away, including the Nereid's leg and right hand, and a second figure.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"bone","id":"AAT11798"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"},{"text":"low relief","id":"AAT53623"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Carved bone in low relief","categories":[{"text":"Plaques & Plaquettes","id":"THES49031"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Myths & Legends","id":"THES49005"},{"text":"Africa","id":"THES49019"}],"styles":[{"text":"Late Antique","id":"AAT20666"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2019MB9693","2019MB9694","2017KB8432"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES395463"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Panel","id":""}],[{"text":"Plaque","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Egypt","id":"x29512"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"3rd century to 4th century","earliest":"0200-01-01","latest":"0399-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"8.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Thickness","value":"0.48","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Intended for applying to a casket. Acquired in Paris.","historicalContext":"Similar carvings, many of  which follow the more or less convex curve of the bone, have been found in great quantities, chiefly in the district of Alexandria. The figure subjects are usually taken from mythology and are similar to those on textiles, but occasionally biblical scenes occur. The carvings were probably used in the decoration of wooden caskets.","briefDescription":"Plaque, carved bone, Nereid, Egypt, Coptic, 3rd or 4th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in the Years 1905 - 1908. <u>In</u>: <u>List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, During the Year 1905, Arranged According to the Dates of  Acquisition with Appendix and Indices</u>. London: Printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, 1909, p. 167"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Longhurst, Margaret H. <u>Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory</u>. Part I. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1927, p. 23"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Beckwith, John. <u>Coptic Sculpture</u>. London, 1963, pp. 12, 49, fig. 27"}],"production":"Coptic","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"Nereid","id":"x36721"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["828-1905"],"accessionNumberNum":"828","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1905,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-20","recordCreationDate":"2008-12-12","availableToBook":true}}