{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O320952"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O320952/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HN8280/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HN8280/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2015HN8280","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN8287","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN8281","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN8282","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN8283","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN8284","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN8285","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN8286","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN8288","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN8289","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN8290","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN8291","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN8292","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KW7940","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O320952/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O320952","accessionNumber":"W.8-1956","objectType":"Pew end","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"One of a pair of bench ends, pierced and carved with subjects from the Life of Christ and the parable of the Prodigal Son.  Each comprises the upper half only of a complete end, but lacks the cresting. The ends must have stood originally about 2.5m (8ft.) high.  There are four carved scenes on each, enclosed within circular and semi-circular panels, formed by a running  scroll. \r\nThe Life of Christ scenes on W.8  comprise  the Annunciation at the bottom; the Adoration of the infant Jesus by Mary and Joseph; the Baptism of Christ, and Christ’s Vigil on the Mount of Olives. On the front, supported on a twisted column and surmounted by a late Gothic foliate canopy, is a figure of St Paul. \r\n","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"oak","id":"AAT12264"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Christianity","id":"THES48978"},{"text":"Woodwork","id":"THES48877"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2015HN8280","2015HN8287","2015HN8281","2015HN8282","2015HN8283","2015HN8284","2015HN8285","2015HN8286","2015HN8288","2015HN8289","2015HN8290","2015HN8291","2015HN8292","2018KW7940"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES343455"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Pew end","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Netherlands","id":"x29020"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1500-1525","earliest":"1500-01-01","latest":"1525-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"160.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"49","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"9.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Two benchends (W.8 and 9 -1956) bought for £350 from Hermann Baer, 6 Davies Street, London W1 (RF 56/1936)\r\n\r\nA bench of a later date which had been attached to the ends to create a pseudo 'gothic' seat, was not retained by the museum.  One bench end (W.9-1956) must have been intended to stand against a wall, as the carving is only roughly finished off at the back, the other presumably next to a church aisle. There is some restoration at the base of W.9-1956, and the base of the rear upright is worm-eaten. Each end is carved entirely in the solid. There is some damage to both carving and decoration. From the disposition of the surviving tenons, it seems that the ends were linked by comparatively light rails, engaging into the back of W.8  and the front of W.9. It seems unlikely that there was ever any more substantial back.  \n\r\nThese bench ends are reminiscent of the highly elaborated Netherlandish late Medieval versions of the tall pierced back-stall end, exemplified at St Janskerk, ’sHertogenbosch, dated 1440-60. Similar stall ends with pierced scrolling branch-work in the upper zone, and containing Biblical scenes and costume, could also be seen in the now destroyed choir-stalls at St Peter, Oirschot (J.S. Witsen Elias, Koorbanken Koorhekken en Kansels, Amsterdam 1944, pls. 68 and 69). These were carved by Jan Borchmans in 1508-1511.\r\n\nA similar pair of bench ends (156cm high) were in the Richard von Kaufmann collection, but were carved with  three instead of four roundels - sold Berlin 4.12.1917 nos.383/4 M.41,000. This pair with three roundels, carved with the Virgin and Child with St.Anne,  the Supper at Emmaeus, St. Eustace and other saints was on loan to the Städelsches Kunstinstitut, Frankfurt in 1958. (Photograph and letter attached to registered papers). The auction catalogue also refers to another pair, apparently identical with those now acquired by the Museum, sold at the H. Wenke auction in 1898 (National Art Library (Short title: Kunstsachen und Antiquitäten 1898 Oct. 27-28))\r\n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Dutch, 1500-1525, Life of Christ","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Charles Tracy: Continental Church Furniture in England – A Traffic in Piety. (Woodbridge, 2001), M/18 p.251"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Stall end. Carved with scenes from the life of Christ s owing (bottom to top):  The Annunciation, the Nativity, the Baptism of Christ, the Agony in the Garden. Oak, Dutch: early 16th century.  W.8-1956\n\r\nStall end. Carved with scenes from the parable of the Prodigal Son, showing (bottom to top): The Prodigal Son receiving goods from his father, The Prodigal Son with a Harlot, the Prodigal Son tending Swine, the Return of the Prodigal Son. Oak.  Dutch, early 16th century. W.9-1956\r\n","date":{"text":"1967","earliest":"1967-01-01","latest":"1967-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["W.8-1956"],"accessionNumberNum":"8","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1956,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LW9543"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-09-17","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}