{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O237467"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O237467/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019LX8020/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019LX8020/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2019LX8020","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019LX8021","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019LX8022","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O237467/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O237467","accessionNumber":"232-1902","objectType":"Statuette ","titles":[{"title":"Cat","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This is a life sized terracotta figure of a cat, made by Randolph Caldecott in 1874, crouching with its head forward as if to spring. Although Randolph Caldecott is chiefly known as an illustrator, his interests and work were more varied. This statuette was modelled from the skeleton of a cat, a dead cat and a live cat.\n\nRandolph Caldecott (1846-1886) was a British artist and illustrator. He first worked as a bank clerk in Whitchurch and Manchester while attending evening classes at the Manchester School of Art. In 1872 he moved to London and studied briefly at the Slade School of Fine Art. He did a lot of book illustrations and was one of the first to avoid the then so popular black-and-white effects. He also worked in watercolours and oil drawings.\r\nCaldecott drew his images amidst the vernacular architecture and landscapes of his childhood with a vivid sense of humour. His representation of animals was especially spirited. Apparently even Van Gogh and Gauguin were admirers of his work. Caldecott is commemorated in a memorial by Alfred Gilbert at St Paul’s Cathedral, London.\r\n","physicalDescription":"Figure of a cat, terracotta. Life sized, crouching with head forward as if to spring. The signature is scratched in the ground behind the cat. It is on an oval, simply-moulded base.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Caldecott, Randolph","id":"A7562"},"association":{"text":"sculptor","id":"x43862"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"terracotta","id":"AAT10669"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Terracotta","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Animals and Wildlife","id":"THES250852"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2019LX8020","2019LX8021","2019LX8022"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES396095"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Statuette","id":"x45409"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1874","earliest":"1874-01-01","latest":"1874-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"23.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Bought for £7. 7s from the sale of Alexander A. Ionides Esq., held at Christie, Manson and Woods, 8 King Street, London on 14th March 1902, lot 273.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Statuette, terracotta, a cat, by Randolph Caldecott, England, 1874","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>List of Works of Art acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum during the Year 1902 arranged according to the Dates of Acquisition.</u> London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office. Wyman and Sons, 1906, p.36"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Blackburn, H., <u>Randolph Caldecott. A personal memoir of his early career</u>, London, 1886, p.114"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Watson, J.N.P 'An affinity with babies and beasts. Randolph Caldecott as animal artist', <u>Country Life</u> CLXXX, July 17 1986, pp.148-9"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Bilbey, Diane with Trusted, Marjorie. <u>British Sculpture 1470 to 2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum.</u>  London: V& A Publications, 2002, p. 228, cat. no. 346"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"cat","id":"x30168"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["232-1902"],"accessionNumberNum":"232","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1902,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-07-15","recordCreationDate":"2009-05-29","availableToBook":true}}