{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O195909"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O195909/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AD1327/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AD1327/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AD1327","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JU1960","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O195909/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O195909","accessionNumber":"A.35-1940","objectType":"Statuette","titles":[{"title":"The Mourning Mary","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This statuette, made in about 1650, represents a female figure with hands clasped together in lamentation. Although previously described as St John the Evangelist, the figure can possibly be identified as one of the Maries from an Entombment or Lamentation group. The fine carving of the facial features and flowing draperies are typical of ivories from Sri Lanka, where, from the sixteenth century onwards, the Portuguese were active as traders and later as rulers. The Indian subcontinent had a long-standing tradition of ivory carving, and elaborate objects were locally produced in large numbers for a European clientele. They were also often presented to Western rulers as diplomatic gifts. From the sixteenth century onwards, the four main missionary Orders, Augustinians, Jesuits, Dominicans and Franciscans, started building churches in India with the aim of converting the inhabitants. The ivories would assist in the presentation of Christian imagery, as well as being exported back to the churches, convents and private collections of Europe.\r\n","physicalDescription":"Ivory statuette presenting the mourning Mary standing in a long flowing mantle over a robe decorated with a row of dots at the neck. The figure's hands are clasped together, and her long hair falls over her shoulders. Her head is looking down, inclined to the right. A plugged hole in what was the pulp cavity of the tusk can be seen under the integral base. The circumference of the base is carved with a toothed design. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"ivory","id":"AAT11857"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Carved ivory","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"},{"text":"Christianity","id":"THES48978"}],"styles":[{"text":"Indo-Portuguese","id":"x43853"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2006AD1327","2017JU1960"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES395346"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Statuette","id":"x45409"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Goa","id":"x29824"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"Indo-Portuguese (Goa) or Cingalo-Portuguese (Sri Lanka)"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1650","earliest":"1645-01-01","latest":"1654-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by Mrs Gilbertson in memory of her husband Canon Gilbertson","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"23.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"The figure resembles certain other Indo-Portuguese and Cingalo-Portuguese pieces, particularly in the fine carving of the drapery and the rendering of the nose and eyes. Similar examples are the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception in the Convento de S. Bernardo, Portalegre, and a relief of the Virgin in the collection of Snr Argo Fernando Távora in Porto. The former owner, Canon Gilbertson, may well have acquired the present piece abroad.","historicalContext":"From the sixteenth century, the Portuguese were active as traders and later as rulers in Sri Lanka (formerly called Ceylon). Ivory sculptures were locally produced in large numbers for a European clientele, and their style of carving combined Sri Lankan with European traditions.\r\nThis figure of Mary in lamentation may have originally been part of an Entombment or Lamentation group.","briefDescription":"Statuette, ivory, Mourning Mary, Indo-Portuguese (Goa) or Cingalo-Portuguese (Sri Lanka), ca. 1650","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Dalton, O.M., <u> Catalogue of the Ivory Carvings of the Christian Era with examples of Mohammedan Art and Carvings in Bone in the Department of British and Mediaeval Antioquities and Ethnography of the British Museum</u>, London, British Museum, 1909, no. 545 p. 168, ill. LXXII."},{"reference":{"text":"Trusted, Marjorie, <u>Baroque & Later Ivories</u>, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013","id":"AUTH329728"},"details":"p. 365","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Trusted, Marjorie, <u>Baroque & Later Ivories</u>, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013, p. 365, cat. no. 357"}],"production":"The figure was formerly identified as St John the Evangelist","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Virgin Mary","id":"N480"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[{"text":"Crucifixion","id":"V405"}],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Christianity","id":"AAT73711"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":["Crucifixion (from the Bible)."],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"This figure was originally part of a Crucifixion group, and the Mother of Christ is shown clasping her hands in lamentation. The fine carving of the facial features and flowing draperies are typical of Sri Lankan ivories.","date":{"text":"March 2009","earliest":"2009-03-01","latest":"2009-03-31"}}],"partNumbers":["A.35-1940"],"accessionNumberNum":"35","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1940,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-09-21","recordCreationDate":"2009-03-04","availableToBook":false}}