{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O36983"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O36983/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF4986/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF4986/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AF4986","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O36983/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O36983","accessionNumber":"B.144:1 to 5-1996","objectType":"Toy lion","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"1.  box lid, white printed in red and other colours to show the title in English, French and Chinese and photographs of the toy itself.\n2.  box base, white card\n3.  lion, lithographed tinplate, gold with red markings; the mouth is red, yellow and white plastic.  The underneath of the body and inner front legs  are yellow plastic.  The head is decorated with bright pink fur fabric to represent the head hair and ears and there are coloured plastic knobs on the forehead.  It is possible that when operating these knobs light up.  Under the chin are three bells and on the top of the head a green fur fabric decoration and metal and blue thread tassels.  Between the front paws, on an upright metal post, is a large ball, tinplate in red with green and gold markings.\n4.  tail, fan shaped bright pink fur fabric with a gold and green metallic decoration.  This sits on a post protruding from the lions upper body.\n5.  battery cover plate which sits over the hole in the base of the body.\n\nThe battery is housed inside the body and the on/off switch is on the left side.  When operating, the lion moves along on two large yellow plastic wheels; there is a balance knob at the rear end.  At the same time the post supporting the ball turns so the ball spins.  Also activated is the head which allows the mouth to open and close, jingling the bells underneath the chin, and the tail moves from side to side on the post which is connected to the mechanism.\n\n*One of the major mythological symbols is the dragon and the pearl with the dragon always trying to catch the pearl.  This may be a toy represent- ation.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"fur fabric","id":"x30594"},{"text":"plastic","id":"AAT14570"},{"text":"Tinplate","id":"x32089"}],"techniques":[{"text":"lithography","id":"AAT53271"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Lithographed tinplate, fur fabric and plastic, with a battery operated mechanism; tongue and slot joins","categories":[{"text":"Children & Childhood","id":"THES48980"},{"text":"Dolls & Toys","id":"THES48967"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"YVA","id":"THES48593"},"images":["2006AF4986"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES343677"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES343677"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR011","id":"THES341117"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"SR011","id":"THES341117"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES343677"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"boxes","id":"AAT45643"}],[{"text":"boxes","id":"AAT45643"}],[{"text":"mechanical toys","id":"AAT211325"}],[{"text":"mechanical toys","id":"AAT211325"}],[{"text":"mechanical toys","id":"AAT211325"}],[{"text":"components","id":"AAT241583"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"China","id":"x29398"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1975-1979","earliest":"1975-01-01","latest":"1979-12-31"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Clio Whittaker","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"12.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"36.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"28","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"10 in x 12½ in x 11 in without tail","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"MADE IN CHINA MS 848 FABRIQUE EN CHINE on box \nMADE IN CHINA MS 848 with Chinese characters on toy","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"References: This collection of toys was acquired by the donor while attending Peking University in 1978 and 1979.  The majority of the toys were made in China for its own market.  \n\nSee additional notes, B. 106-1996","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Boxed battery operated lion made in China in the late 1970s","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["B.144:1-1996","B.144:2-1996","B.144:3-1996","B.144:4-1996","B.144:5-1996"],"accessionNumberNum":"144","accessionNumberPrefix":"B","accessionYear":1996,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Box lid","Box base","Mechanical toy lion","Tail for mechanical toy lion","Battery cover for mechanical toy lion"],"assets":["2022NF5770"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-09","recordCreationDate":"2000-04-18","availableToBook":false}}