{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O491698"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O491698/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O491698","accessionNumber":"A.19-1925","objectType":"Figure","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Standing figure of a short-necked and squad man with a top-knot. He is dressed in armour, a long coat with wide sleeves, and high boots. His hands are set one above the other to wrap his hands around, but the piece is 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":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"iron","id":"AAT11002"}],"techniques":[{"text":"cast","id":"x32615"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"cast iron\r\n","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Arms & 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":"63","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"27.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"23","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"30","unit":"kg","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"17/07/2019","earliest":"2019-07-17","latest":"2019-07-17"},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Given by Dr. W.L. Hildburgh, FSA","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.19-1925"],"accessionNumberNum":"19","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1925,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-20","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":false}}