{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O248836"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O248836/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2012FH1386/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2012FH1386/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2012FH1386","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FH1387","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O248836/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O248836","accessionNumber":"A.24-1931","objectType":"Spherical diptych","titles":[{"title":"Saul kneeling before Samuel; the Death of Absalom","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This ivory spherical diptych is in two halves and is carved on the inside on one half with the Old Testament King Saul kneeling before the prophet and spiritual leader of the Israelites, Samuel, who appointed as his successor the young shepherd David. On the other half of the sphere is the death of Absalom. On the outside there is some formal quatrefoil ornament.\nThe slightly awkward figure-style suggests that the piece was made in Britain in the mid-nineteenth century. It may have been carved from a billiard ball, and was probably intended as a devotional item. ","physicalDescription":"Biblical scenes, sphere in ivory. In two halves carved on the inside with Saul kneeling before Samuel, and the death of Absalom. On the outside formal quatrefoil ornament.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"ivory","id":"AAT11857"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Ivory","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"},{"text":"Christianity","id":"THES48978"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2012FH1386","2012FH1387"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"012","id":"THES395615"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Spherical diptych","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1850","earliest":"1845-01-01","latest":"1854-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Alfred Williams Hearn Bequest","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"5.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"each hemisphere"},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"10.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"whole when open"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Given by Mrs. B.M. Bingham, Ashley Gardens, London, in 1931. Formerlyu offered as a gift by Mrs Ellen Hearn as part of the Hearn bequest in 1923.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Spherical diptych, ivory, Saul kneeling before Samuel; the Death of Absalom, Britain, ca. 1850","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Trusted, Marjorie, <u>Baroque & Later Ivories</u>, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013, cat. no. 191"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Saul","id":"N656"},{"text":"Samuel","id":"N655"},{"text":"Absalom","id":"N3555"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":["The Death of Absalom"],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["A.24-1931"],"accessionNumberNum":"24","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1931,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-09-24","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-12","availableToBook":true}}