{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O479876"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O479876/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MT7211/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MT7211/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2020MT7211","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O479876/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O479876","accessionNumber":"IS.55-1968","objectType":"Figure","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Figure of a \"Balu\" (minor deity), of white stone (discoloured yellow) similar to marble.  He squats with one knee raised and holds a short spear in his right hand;  he wears earrings and has a short beard.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Stone","id":"AAT11176"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"White stone (discoloured yellow), similar to marble.","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Buddhism","id":"THES48984"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2020MT7211"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES368351"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Burma","id":"x30037"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"19th century","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"24.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"15","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"See IS 54-1968\r\nExtract from Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen's Diary in 1902 \"Two days march from Mandalay, Mayong, N. Shan States.  I came across an old ruined temple in the forest last week and in tearing away some of the jungle and creepers I found some exquisite alabaster buddhas...  The two flanking figures represent \"content and discontent\"\".\r\n\r\nCol. Meinertzhagen was originally in the Indian Army before transferring to an African regiment.  He wrote several books on ornithology and his travels in Africa and Asia (see \"Who's Who\" 1967.  He died in 1967 and his niece who offered the objects is a principal scientific officer at the Natural History Museum.  John Lowry October 2lst 1968","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Balu; Sculpture, marble, carved, Shan Burma, C19","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Burmese art / John Lowry. London: H. M. Stationery Office, 1974 Number: 0112901794 :","id":"AUTH339985"},"details":"pl. 9.","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IS.55-1968"],"accessionNumberNum":"55","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1968,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-10-01","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":true}}