{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O341185"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O341185/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MP2840/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MP2840/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2020MP2840","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O341185/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O341185","accessionNumber":"C.26-1912","objectType":"Ball","titles":[{"title":"Witch ball","type":"popular title"}],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Spherical transparent blue glass. It has a small hole, through which is passed a short cord attached to a cross piece of wood for suspension.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"glass","id":"AAT10797"}],"techniques":[{"text":"blown","id":"x30776"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"blue glass, blown","categories":[{"text":"Glass","id":"THES48946"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"CER","id":"THES48594"},"images":["2020MP2840"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES335641"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Ball","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"late 18th century","earliest":"1750-01-01","latest":"1799-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"MA/1/B3275","id":"ARC150917"},"association":"Archive record"}],"creditLine":"Given by Francis Buckley, Esq.","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"9.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"Converted from measurement in register"},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"9.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"Converted from measurement in register"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Described as a 'witch ball' in the register entry, this spherical glass ball was supposedly originally hung in the window of an 18th century home to ward off witches and evil spirits. The belief was that the refraction of light would distract witches from coming into the house. ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"'Witch' ball, transparent blue glass, Bristol, England, second half of 18th century","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["C.26-1912"],"accessionNumberNum":"26","accessionNumberPrefix":"C","accessionYear":1912,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-11","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}