{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O63023"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O63023/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JG0181/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JG0181/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2016JG0181","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O63023","accessionNumber":"S.968:1, 2-1982","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"Wooden figure showing Lubov Tchernicheva","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Plywood souvenir figure designed by Randolph Scwabe representing Lubov Tchernicheva as Aphrodite in Bronislava Nijinska's ballet  <i>Les Tentations de la bergère</i> (The Faithful Shepherdess) ca.1924. This was one of the souvenirs of principal dancers of the Ballets Russes issued by C W Beaumont, made by the Aldon Studios for the dance historian, bookseller and publisher, Cyril Beaumont, for sale in his shop at 75, Charing Cross Road.\r\nThe 1928 catalogue included the following description of the cut-outs (p.25): \"These figures of celebrated dancers of the Diaghileff Ballet have been issued with a view to supply the demand for something between a photograph and a statuette - something that would preserve the memory of a dancer as she appeared in a particular ballet.  Each figure is based on drawings made from sittings given by the dancer herself, and from sketches made during an actual performance.  …The figures, which are of wood, average 8 3/4 inches high, and are hand-coloured with special care to ensure accuracy of costume.  The black stands on which the figures are mounted are easily removable to afford facility in packing.  The figures are priced at 7s. 6d. net.\" \r\n<i>Les Tentations de la bergère</i> (<i>The Faithful Shepherdess</i>) choreographed by Bronislava Nijinska was premiered by the Diaghilev Ballets Russes in 1924 with designs by Juan Gris and music by Monteclair arranged and orchestrated by H Casadesus. Beaumont noted that the narrative told of a shepherdess who remained faithful to a shepherd despite the temptation of a rich Marquis and was rewarded by the appearance of Aphrodite and Hyman. Finally the Sun King blessed the lovers. Beaumont recalled ‘the formalized Watteau-like background, of a lovely pae grey, which made an admirable setting for the dancers… the chief moment was the pas de deux of Aphrodite and Hyman, in which Tchernicheva and Dolin, in simplified versions of 18th century ballet costumes in pink and silver, with the single bared shoulder  characteristic of “gods and goddesses’ at that period, danced with great feeling a number composed of elements of 18th century dance technique allied to a classical ballet foundation.’  \r\n","physicalDescription":"","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"C. W. Beaumont & Co","id":"A5770"},"association":{"text":"Publisher","id":"x32600"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Aldon Studios","id":"A5769"},"association":{"text":"Maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Dance","id":"THES252984"},{"text":"Figures","id":"THES274372"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2016JG0181"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES355417"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"U","id":"THES297002"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"bases (object components)","id":"AAT1656"}],[{"text":"figures (illustrations)","id":"AAT188975"}],[{"text":"cutouts","id":"AAT257411"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Europe","id":"x28842"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1920s","earliest":"1920-01-01","latest":"1929-12-31"},"association":{"text":"Made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Cyril W. Beaumont Bequest","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"The figure was originally numbered as S.968-1982 and the number was amended in 2001 to include the detachable base.\n\nHistorical significance: The existence of such figures are a testimony to the popularity of the Diaghilev Ballets Russes in London, and a growing 'popular' audience who demanded memorabilia and souvenirs.  As the only specialist bookseller and publisher in London, and with access to the dancers and company, Beaumont was quick to identify the market and he commissioned the figures, prints and illustrated books to fulful the demand.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Plywood souvenir figure representing Lubov Tchernicheva as Aphrodite in <i>Les Tentations de la bergère</i> (The Faithful Shepherdess), issued by C W Beaumont, 1920s.  Wood, gouache and silver paint.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Beaumont, Cyril, A Bookseller at the Ballet, C. W. Beaumont, London, 1975."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"The Complete Catalogue of the Publications of C. W. Beaumont, C. W. Beaumont, London, 1928"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Limited edition","id":"THES48862"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.968:2-1982","S.968:1-1982"],"accessionNumberNum":"968","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1982,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Base (object components)","Figure"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-10-05","recordCreationDate":"2001-10-31","availableToBook":true}}