{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O62587"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O62587/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM5366/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM5366/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM5366","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O62587/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O62587","accessionNumber":"M.189-1976","objectType":"Triptych","titles":[{"title":"Seek ye my Face","type":"popular title"}],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>A triptych is a picture or carving, chiefly used as an altarpiece and is composed of three panels arranged sidy by side and hinged so that the two outer panels fold over the central one.<br><br><b>Subjects Depicted</b><br>The triptych in each of its three panels represents an angel appearing before a sleeping figure on a mound overlooking the sea, a kneeling figure at an altar offering a heart, and a kneeling figure receiving a chalice at an altar. The triptych clearly echoes devotional enamelled triptychs of the Middle Ages (of which the V&A has many examples), associating the sacraments which is the receiving the chalice with the notion of self-sacrifice by offering the heart.The image of the sleeping figure may indicate a further level of meaning, suggesting that artistic vision, symbolised here by dreaming  through the representation of a visitation from an angel-muse, can also be a religious quest.<br><br><b>People</b><br>Phoebe Traquair distinguished between 'epic' (large-scale) work such as tapestries and wall painting and 'lyric' (small-scale) work. From 1901, when she began her apprenticeship in enamelling to Lady Gibson Carmichael at Castlecraig, enamelling replaced book illustration as her preferred small-scale medium. Her work was greatly indebted to Medieval and Renaissance precedents, both technically and iconographically. Her jewellery, triptychs, caskets and mounted cups and covers, for instance, all have historical precedents.","physicalDescription":"The triptych is of copper set with enamels, the central section shows 'Love, the Comforter of the Night', which is flanked by 'Evening' and 'Morning'. On the left wing is depicted a kneeling figure at an altar, offering a heart. The right wing has a kneeling figure receiving a chalice at an altar. The centre is backed with copper and inscribed 'I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest, for it is thou, Lord, only, that makest me to dwell in safety'. The triptych is mounted on a platform supported on a column with a flattened and bevelled capital. It has a domed circular foot, with a moulded edge.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Traquair, Phoebe Anna","id":"A8927"},"association":{"text":"designer and maker","id":"x34662"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Traquair, Ramsay","id":"A5724"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"AAT25190"},"note":"stand, probably"},{"name":{"text":"Talbot, J. M.","id":"A5753"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":"stand, probably"}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Copper, set with painted enamels","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Christianity","id":"THES48978"},{"text":"British Galleries","id":"THES48985"},{"text":"Scotland","id":"THES262877"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AM5366"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"125G","id":"THES49212"},"free":"","case":"CA1","shelf":"","box":"9"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Triptych","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Edinburgh","id":"x28816"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1906","earliest":"1906-01-01","latest":"1906-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Mrs H. V. Bartholomew","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"16.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"12.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"open","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"8.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"base","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: Measured; 21/01/1999 by sf","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Seek ye my Face', in gold letters, on the proper right outer wing of the triptych.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"'Thy Face Lord will I seek', in gold letters on the proper left outer wing of the triptych.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"'I will lay me down in peace and take my rest, for it is thou Lord only that makest me to dwell in safety', engraved on the back of the triptych. Below, the initials 'PAT' in monogramme (for 'Phoebe Anna Traquair') and the date '1906'.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Designed and made by Phoebe Anna Traquair (born in Dublin, 1852, died in Edinburgh, 1936)\nMade in Edinburgh","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Enamelled triptych by Phoebe Traquair, the stand probably designed by Ramsay Traquair and made by J. M.Talbot, Edinburgh, 1906.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nENAMELWORK BY PHOEBE ANNA TRAQUAIR<br>\nMedieval and Renaissance jewellery, triptychs, caskets and mounted cups and covers inspired Phoebe Traquair's enamel work. She used historical forms and techniques, often mixed with classical and mythological design sources. The enamelled plaques relate the story of Persephone, daughter of the Greek goddess of nature. The figures, flowers and insects represent spring.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["M.189-1976"],"accessionNumberNum":"189","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1976,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN1797","2019LP5849","2019LU6858"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-23","recordCreationDate":"2001-09-17","availableToBook":false}}