{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O25371"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O25371/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AY3039/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AY3039/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AY3039","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O25371/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O25371","accessionNumber":"M.31:1 to 6-1999","objectType":"Inkstand","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Before the advent of  the ballpoint pen, typewriters and computers, a utensil for holding ink, pounce, pens and wafers (for sealing letters) was essential on the desk.\r\n\r\nSilver inkstands made their appearance in Britain in the early 17th century.  Common features were a pot, often described as a well for containing the ink, another pot with a pierced cover for containing 'pounce' or sand which was scattered over the paper to fix the ink, a box for wafers to seal the finished letter and a tray to contain the pens or quills.  By the 18th century, the design was often simplified;  the frame became the tray and there was one receptacle for the ink and another for the pounce. Often a bell to summon a servant was included or, as here, a holder for a taperstick to light the writing.","physicalDescription":"","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Smith, Benjamin (II)","id":"A8860"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Smith, James (III)","id":"A10546"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Silver gilt","id":"x37998"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver gilt and glass","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AY3039"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"67 (VA)","id":"THES49731"},"free":"","case":"10","shelf":"1","box":""},{"current":{"text":"67 (VA)","id":"THES49731"},"free":"","case":"10","shelf":"1","box":""},{"current":{"text":"67 (VA)","id":"THES49731"},"free":"","case":"10","shelf":"1","box":""},{"current":{"text":"67 (VA)","id":"THES49731"},"free":"","case":"10","shelf":"1","box":""},{"current":{"text":"67 (VA)","id":"THES49731"},"free":"","case":"10","shelf":"1","box":""},{"current":{"text":"67 (VA)","id":"THES49731"},"free":"","case":"10","shelf":"1","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Inkstand base","id":""}],[{"text":"Inkstand glass bowl","id":""}],[{"text":"Inkstand glass bowl","id":""}],[{"text":"Inkstand lid","id":""}],[{"text":"Inkstand lid","id":""}],[{"text":"Taperstick","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1810 - 1811","earliest":"1810-05-29","latest":"1811-05-28"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Mrs. B.C. Whiteley to commemorate a very distinguished curator's work over a period of some nineteen years","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"On base of stand","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Maker, duty, sterling, date letter, leopard's head"}],"objectHistory":"Given by Mrs  B.C. Whiteley to commemorate a very distinguished curator's work over a period of some 19 years. ( refers to Philippa Glanville.)","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"'The Glanville Inkstand', silver-gilt, bearing the mark of Benjamin Smith II and James Smith III, London, 1810-11","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.31:1-1999","M.31:2-1999","M.31:3-1999","M.31:4-1999","M.31:5-1999","M.31:6-1999"],"accessionNumberNum":"31","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1999,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Inkstand base","Inkstand glass bowl [1]","Inkstand glass bowl [2]","Inkstand lid [1]","Inkstand lid [2]","Taperstick"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-21","recordCreationDate":"2000-02-21","availableToBook":false}}