{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O18956"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O18956/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AL5613/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AL5613/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AL5613","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AV7181","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AT2398","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O18956/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O18956","accessionNumber":"2743-1851","objectType":"Flagon","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>This object is described as a wine flagon in contemporary literature, which suggests a function, but it was made specifically to impress visitors to exhibitions with its large size and superb workmanship.<br><br><b>Historical Associations</b><br>The flagon is an example of a non-functional exhibition piece made for the Great Exhibition of 1851. These special items were produced by manufacturers or commissioned by retailers for  international exhibitions in the 19th century  to generate publicity and consumer interest through the display of design flair and working skills. The flagon was shown as a companion to a more elaborately chased example which had gained a prize medal for the retailers Lambert and Rawlings. It was purchased for the V&A Museum for œ 128 8s. A report of 1852 commented that the flagon was  ' remarkable for the elegance and simplicity of the general form, and the delicacy and subordination of the ornamental portions'.<br><br><b>Retailer & Manufacturer</b><br>The London firm of Lambert and Rawlings, who commissioned this flagon, were one of the most important retailers to specialise in selling reproduction silver in historic styles as well as genuine antiques. The Fox family of silversmiths enjoyed a long working relationship with Lambert and Rawlings and generally supplied silver in period styles  such as this Gothic revival flagon. The large size of the piece ensured that it would be expensive to make in terms of time and material. Reportedly it took one man 12 weeks to make this flagon.","physicalDescription":"Flagon with bulbous body and slender neck. Body has eight silver lobes and foliate gilded decoration. Stopper has gilded knop and is attached to the flagon by a chain.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Fox, George","id":"A8403"},"association":{"text":"manufacturer","id":"AAT25230"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Fox, Charles Thomas","id":"A8402"},"association":{"text":"manufacturer","id":"AAT25230"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Lambert & Rawlings","id":"A9155"},"association":{"text":"retailer","id":"AAT25246"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[{"text":"parcel-gilt","id":"AAT233409"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver, parcel-gilt","categories":[{"text":"ELISE","id":"THES48961"},{"text":"Images Online","id":"THES48937"},{"text":"British Galleries","id":"THES48985"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AL5613","2006AV7181","2006AT2398"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"122G","id":"THES49219"},"free":"","case":"CA9","shelf":"","box":"4"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Flagon","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"retailed","id":"x30772"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1851","earliest":"1846-01-01","latest":"1855-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"63","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"36","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"30.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: Measured; 03/02/2000 by LH","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"London date hallmarks and marks of Charles Thomas and George Fox.","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":"Purchased from the Great Exhibition, 1851.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Flagon, manufactured by Charles Thomas and George Fox, retailers, Lambert & Rawlings, for the 1851 Great Exhibition; silver & parcel gilt, London, England, ca.1851.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Baker, Malcolm, and Brenda Richardson (eds.), <i>A Grand Design: The Art of the Victoria and Albert Museum</i>, London: V&A Publications, 1999.","id":"AUTH348910"},"details":"","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[{"text":"Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations","id":"V11"}],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nThe retailing firm of Lambert & Rawlings commissioned this massive flagon specifically for display at the Great Exhibition. It was a specially produced, non-functional object made to demonstrate the skills of the silversmiths. The Fox family of silversmiths enjoyed a long working relationship with Lambert & Rawlings, generally supplying items in historic styles.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["2743-1851"],"accessionNumberNum":"2743","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1851,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LP1685","2019LV2441","2020MN9684"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-20","recordCreationDate":"2000-01-04","availableToBook":false}}