{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O491641"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O491641/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CR2892/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CR2892/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009CR2892","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O491641/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O491641","accessionNumber":"M.38-1947","objectType":"Articulated iron snake","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Representational sculpture of animals and insects had been known in Japan from the middle of the Edo period (1600-1868), when bronze figures had been made for display in the tokonoma, the alcove in a Japanese house where works of art were displayed. These items were produced by traditional armour makers, or by those who made the decorative fittings for swords. \r\n\r\nThe Myochin school of armour makers specialised in <i>jizai</i> - lifelike articulated figures of animals. Jizai are realistically shaped figures of animals made from iron, copper, shibuichi (copper and silver alloy) and shakudo (copper and gold alloy). Their bodies and limbs are articulated, and can be moved like real animals. Among these ornamental figures, models of birds, fishes, snakes, lobsters, crabs and insects, as well as imaginary beings such as dragons, are common. \r\n\r\n(See references for further information).","physicalDescription":"Articulated iron snake J. <i>jizai</i>. Signed 'Myochin Munenobu' under the snake's chin. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Myochin Munenobu","id":"A39778"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"iron","id":"AAT11002"}],"techniques":[{"text":"hammered","id":"AAT54098"},{"text":"gilding","id":"AAT53789"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Hammered iron, articulated and gilded","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Ironwork","id":"THES251837"}],"styles":[{"text":"Edo","id":"AAT106658"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2009CR2892"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"CA005","id":"THES388306"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Articulated snake (Japanese: 'jizai')","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1750 to 1800","earliest":"1750-01-01","latest":"1800-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"165.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Munenobu","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Myochin Munenobu; c.1750-1800. Signed under the snake's chin."}],"objectHistory":"Jahn Bequest","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Ornamental figure of a snake, wrought iron, articulated and gilded, Japan, mid 18th century\r\n\r\n","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Hull-Grundy, A. Japanese Articulated Iron Animals. <u>Oriental Art</u>. 1958, IV, No.4. fig.3."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"http://web.archive.org/web/20230213143753/https://www.tnm.jp/modules/r_free_page/index.php?id=573&lang=en"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"<b>Scaly snake\n</b>\r\nMeet our ssslippery, ssslithering sssnake. She’s come all the way from Japan. \n\r\nDo you think her ssscales feel ssspiky or ssspongy?\n\r\nMade by Myochin Munenobu\r\n1750–1800\r\nJapan\r\nMade from hammered iron\r\nJahn Bequest \r\nMuseum no. M.38-1947\n\n[Young V&amp;A, Play Gallery, Mini Museum, short object label]","date":{"text":"01/07/2023","earliest":"2023-07-01","latest":"2023-07-01"}},{"text":"SNAKE\r\nWrought iron\r\nJapan; mid 18th century\r\nM.38-1947\r\n\r\nIn the figure of a snake, signed 'Miochin Muneobu'.","date":{"text":"07/1994","earliest":"1994-07-01","latest":"1994-07-31"}}],"partNumbers":["M.38-1947"],"accessionNumberNum":"38","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1947,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-01-21","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":false}}