{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O491697"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O491697/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O491697","accessionNumber":"A.20-1925","objectType":"Figure","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Standing figure of a short-necked and squad man with hair rising to two small coils at the top of the head. He is dressed in armour, a long coat with wide sleeves, and high boots. His hands are set above one another with a distance and at an angle, where he would have held a round, long device, such as a spear, but the piece is now missing. The feet stand on a rough circular base which has a hole in the centre. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":"The sculpture is made from cast iron, probably formerly gessoed and painted."}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"iron","id":"AAT11002"}],"techniques":[{"text":"cast","id":"x32615"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"cast iron\r\n","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Arms and armour","id":"THES48992"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES343964"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"China","id":"x29398"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"productionDates":[],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"67","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"28","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"25","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"28","unit":"kg","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Given by Dr. W.L. Hildburgh","historicalContext":"Cast iron became widespread for outdoor sculptures under the Song dynasty (960-1279) -  technological advances made it cheaper to produce. After casting, the sculptures were often covered with gesso, lacquer, paper and paint, which concealed the lines from the casting process and allowed the sculptures to resemble images made of more expensive materials.","briefDescription":"Guardian of the Four Quarters; Scu, China, sculpture","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["A.20-1925"],"accessionNumberNum":"20","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1925,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-20","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":false}}