{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O452622"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O452622/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HU0843/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HU0843/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2015HU0843","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HU0845","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HU0847","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HU0849","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HU0873","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AT6679","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AT6678","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O452622/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O452622","accessionNumber":"IM.238-1922","objectType":"Stringed instrument","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Musical instrument (tanpura) with keys for four strings.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Painted wood, inlaid with darker wood and ivory.","categories":[{"text":"Musical instruments","id":"THES48919"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2015HU0843","2015HU0845","2015HU0847","2015HU0849","2015HU0873","2006AT6679","2006AT6678"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES404203"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Stringed instrument","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"19th century","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Mrs Biddulph in accordance with the wishes of the late Colonel John Biddulph","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"93.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"34.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"190","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"15.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"The collection of Indian, Japanese and Persian arms and armour was formed by Colonel John Biddulph, a British soldier and military historian who had served in the political department of the government of British India including as Resident at the court of the Gaekwads of Baroda.  [Letter from Colonel David Philips Chapman on behalf of Mrs Biddulph, RP 643-1922, John Biddulph (Mrs Julia) Nominal File, MA/1/B1370] The items were also acquired by the Department of Metalwork at the time.  [RP, 3044-1922, John Biddulph (Mrs Julia) Nominal File, MA/1/B1370]. This stringed instrument was added to the arms and armour collection given to the museum in 1922. \r\n\r\nGiven by Mrs Biddulph in accordance with the wishes of the late Colonel John Biddulph. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project.\r\n\r\nR.P. 1922- 3043","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"tamburi (4 wood pegs); Musical, wood ivory, painted, Gwalior India, C19","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Skelton, Robert, et al, <i>The Indian Heritage. Court life and Arts under Mughal Rule</i> London: The Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982","id":"AUTH352798"},"details":"cat. 565, p.  165","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Jackson, Anna and Ji Wei (eds.) with Rosemary Crill, Ainsley M. Cameron and Nicholas Barnard, compiled by the Palace Museum, translated by Yuan Hong, Qi Yue and Liu Ran. <u>The Splendour of India' Royal Courts : Collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum</u>. Beijing: the Forbidden City Publishing House, 2013. Text in English and Chinese. ISBN 9787513403917.","id":"AUTH325369"},"details":"pps.82 and 83","free":""}],"production":"Probably made in Sipri, Gwalior State, Central India","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"TAMBURA\r\nPainted wood and ivory with metal strings and rosewood pegs\r\nPossibly South India; acquired in Pune, Maharashtra, or Shivpuri, near Gwalior\r\n1850-95\r\nIM.238-1922\r\nGiven by Mrs Biddulph in accordance with the wishes of the late Colonel John Biddulph (1840-1922)\r\nThe tambura is a plucked drone instrument used to accompany instrumental or vocal performances. This unusually small example is so profusely decorated it may have been made for display or for use at court. The front features images of the Hindu deities Ganesha, Rama, Sita, Hanuman and Lakshmana. On the back, Krishna dancing with the gopis (cow-girls) is flanked by four figures including Shiva, Brahma and the sage Narada.","date":{"text":"15/09/2015","earliest":"2015-09-15","latest":"2015-09-15"}}],"partNumbers":["IM.238-1922"],"accessionNumberNum":"238","accessionNumberPrefix":"IM","accessionYear":1922,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-22","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":false}}