{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O482194"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O482194/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MP6342/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MP6342/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2020MP6342","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O482194/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O482194","accessionNumber":"01226(IS)","objectType":"Model","titles":[{"title":"Cage with clockwork singing bird","type":""}],"summaryDescription":"This silver bird cage with clockwork singing bird was made in Nabha, Punjab, and exhibited at the London International Exhibition of 1872. The exhibitor was the Raja of Nabha, who showed other mechanical curiosities. The catalogue description for the bird cage notes 'On touch ing a spring, after the machinery has been wound up, the bird sings, flaps its wings, moves its head, and turns upon its perch'. A silver label on the cage identifies its maker, Nattooram, and adds that he was a watchmaker from Nabha. The piece was almost certainly made specially for the exhibition. It was acquired by the Indian Museum in London after the exhibition, and subsequently moved to South Kensington when the Indian Museum's collections were dispersed in 1879. The cage had its own cover, now accessioned as 02976(IS).","physicalDescription":"Cage with clockwork singing bird and it bears an engraved silver label inscribed:\r\nNATTOORAM\r\nWATCHMAKER\r\nNABHA","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver with traces of iridescent plumage","categories":[{"text":"India Museum","id":"THES286062"},{"text":"Animals and Wildlife","id":"THES250852"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2020MP6342"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"009","id":"THES333191"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Model","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"nabha","id":"THES261726"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"c. 1870","earliest":"1865-01-01","latest":"1874-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"02976(IS)","id":"O475886"},"association":"Accessory"}],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"30","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"16.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Exhibited at the London International Exhibition of 1872 by the Raja of Nabha; acquired by the Indian Museum October 1877; transferred to South Kensington 1879. Described in the Indian Slip Book as 'Toy Bird in Silver Cage'; a note adds  'A bell shaped cover for the cage made of gold and silver kincob accompanied the article'. This is 02976(IS).","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"bird cage with bird; Models, silver, Raja of Nabha India","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":"Veronica Murphy, p. 116, cat. 348","free":""}],"production":"An engraved silver label on the cage is inscribed: \r\nNATTOORAM\r\nWATCHMAKER\r\nNABHA","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["01226(IS)"],"accessionNumberNum":"01226","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"India Museum Slip Book","id":"THES50388"},"number":"2474"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-06-24","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":false}}