{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O486819"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O486819/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O486819","accessionNumber":"T.208-1925","objectType":"Book wrapper","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Squared book wrapper from the imperial lirbary, woven in yellow silk and gold-wrapped thread. The design consists of two five clawed dragons and the good-luck symbol within an ogival frame. At the four corners are sprigs of peony; the border is of a conventionalised cloud pattern.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silk (textile)","id":"AAT243428"}],"techniques":[{"text":"brocading","id":"AAT53648"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Brocaded silk with gold-wrapped thread","categories":[{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Books","id":"THES48986"}],"styles":[{"text":"Qing","id":"AAT18478"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"011","id":"THES313031"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Panel","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"China","id":"x29398"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1750-1800","earliest":"1750-01-01","latest":"1800-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Spink and Son Ltd.","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"52.5","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"54.5","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"According to the museum archive record, in November 1925 the dealers Spink & Son offered the museum for purchase a ‘Dynasty Book Cover’. After consideration the museum declined and returned the textile. Spink & Son then offered it as a gift, A.L.B Ashton (later Director of the V&A) noting that the piece was ‘taken from the Summer Palace. We have nothing like this and I strongly recommend acceptance’.  There is nothing on the file from Spink & Son stating this provenance so presumably there was a verbal exchange. The Summer Palace, or Yuanming Yuan, was the imperial summer retreat located north of Beijing, which was plundered and destroyed by British and French troops during the Second Opium War in 1860.\r\n\r\n","historicalContext":"Wrappers of this colour and design were traditionally used to protect books in the imperial library.","briefDescription":"Book wrapper from the imperial library, brocaded silk with gold-wrapped thread, China, Qing dynasty, 1750-1800","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"clouds","id":"x30091"},{"text":"dragons","id":"x30096"},{"text":"emblems (symbols)","id":"AAT123036"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["T.208-1925"],"accessionNumberNum":"208","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1925,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-12-02","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":true}}