{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1813656"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1813656/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2026PR5501/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2026PR5501/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2026PR5501","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2026PR5504","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2026PR5506","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1813656/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1813656","accessionNumber":"IS.26-2026","objectType":"Cushion Cover","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Made in Vietnam in the early 20th century, this unmade cushion cover was a commercial product intended for European or American clients. It is embroidered on both sides with two dragons among clouds and flames, confronting a stylised Chinese character shou (longevity). Further inscriptions appear to indicate a production centre based in Hanoi, northern Vietnam.\n\r\nSimilar dragon designs can be found in a sample book produced by the Nam-Quat embroidery firm, now in the V&amp;A (FE.104-1997). The sample book provides a useful reference for further research into the designs and products made by Vietnamese embroidery workshops for export markets.\n\r\nThe cushion cover was part of a textile collection assembled by Edith Florence Harrop (1890–1980) during her travels with her husband, Frederick S. Harrop (1887–1969), a Royal College of Art graduate and Headmaster of the School of Arts and Crafts in Bangkok. The Harrops lived in Bangkok from 1917 to 1930 and travelled widely across Asia. Edith recorded that “most of these cloths are second-hand and have been bought in pawn shops… genuinely ‘of the country’.” The embroidered textiles were brought back to the UK in 1930 and remained in the family until their acquisition by the V&amp;A.\r\n","physicalDescription":"Unmade rectangular cushion cover of cream satin-weave silk, the design outlined in black ink and embroidered in white silk threads. Both faces are identically decorated. At the centre, set diagonally, are two dragons flying amid clouds and confronting a flaming Chinese character <i>shou</i> (longevity), enclosed within a border of scrolling floral and foliate motifs. One corner is decorated with a blossoming chrysanthemum spray and two butterflies, while the opposite corner bears a three-line Vietnamese inscription. The dragons’ heads and bodies, clouds and flaming <i>shou</i> character are worked in raised embroidery. Lined with undyed plain-weave cotton. The embroidered Vietnamese inscription gives the name of an embroidery atelier based in Hanoi, Vietnam.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silk","id":"AAT243428"},{"text":"","id":""},{"text":"silk yarn","id":"THES285929"}],"techniques":[{"text":"satin weave","id":"x37324"},{"text":"embroidered","id":"AAT53653"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Satin-weave silk embroidered in silk threads, with raised-work embroidery","categories":[{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Embroidery","id":"THES48960"},{"text":"Furnishing fabrics","id":"THES280526"}],"styles":[{"text":"French Colonial","id":"AAT107024"},{"text":"french colonial","id":"AAT107024"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2026PR5501","2026PR5504","2026PR5506"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES394911"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"cushion cover","id":"x40474"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Hanoi","id":"THES250450"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1900 - 1920","earliest":"1900-01-01","latest":"1920-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Mr William Harrop","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"112","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"60","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"‘HG’ within a rectangular frame","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Red stamped seal mark, located on the reverse at two opposing corners, possibly a maker's mark"}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Unmade cream silk satin cushion cover, embroidered with dragon motifs in white silk threads, Hanoi, Vietnam, 1900–20","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IS.26-2026"],"accessionNumberNum":"26","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":2026,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-09-09","recordCreationDate":"2025-12-19","availableToBook":false}}