{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O68961"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O68961/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AH0812/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AH0812/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AH0812","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O68961/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O68961","accessionNumber":"A.3-1912","objectType":"Statuette","titles":[{"title":"Female saint","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This is 15th century English alabaster figure of a female saint. This figure forms a pair with St. Christopher figure and may have been a terminal figure on an altarpiece. The description of the figure as St. Etheldreda is unlikely in view of the palm in her left hand, for she was not martyred, nor does the figure wear a crown, though Etheldreda was a royal princess.\nThere are two sorts of alabaster. Calcite alabaster is very hard and was used in ancient times. This object is made of gypsum alabaster which is a fine-grained, soft and smooth stone. Although at first glance it looks a little like marble, which it was intended to imitate, it was much easier to carve due to its softness, and alabaster objects were therefore significantly cheaper to produce. It probably originated in the large deposits found in Britain, in the Midlands, which were extensively worked from the 14th century. \nEngland was a major centre for the production of objects such as this one. During period, they were exported in very large numbers to Europe where they survive, unlike many examples which remained in England and were destroyed or greatly damaged during the Reformation. This particular object depicts a Saint.","physicalDescription":"The saint carries an open book in her right hand and a palm in her left. She wears a veil and barbe and a gown over which is draped a cloak, hanging from her left shoulder. Her right shoe projects from under her gown. Her eyes are carved as though closed. The base of the figure has a three-faceted front. \r\n\r\nThe palm is broken above the saint's hand. There is some ornate gilding on the figure, which looks modern. There are traces of blue in the folds of the saint's cloak. The back of the figure is marked. There are two large holes now filled. The bottom has been cut away.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"alabaster","id":"AAT11101"},{"text":"paint","id":"AAT15029"},{"text":"gilt","id":"x30367"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"},{"text":"painting","id":"x30598"},{"text":"gilding","id":"AAT53789"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Carved, painted and gilt alabaster","categories":[{"text":"Christianity","id":"THES48978"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[{"text":"Medieval","id":"AAT20756"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2006AH0812"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES333294"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Statuette","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"15th century","earliest":"1400-01-01","latest":"1500-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"A.2-1912","id":"O68953"},"association":"Set"}],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"39.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"13.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"From Cheetham, <font -u>English Medieval Alabasters</font -u>, 1984.","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"An inverted 'V' and two sloping parallel lines.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"On the back of the figure.","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"On the back of the figure."}],"objectHistory":"Purchased from R. Langton Douglas in 1912.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Alabaster statuette depicting a female saint. English, 15th century.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Cheetham, Francis. <font -u>English Medieval Alabasters</font -u>. Oxford: Phaidon-Christie's Limited, 1984. p. 157 (cat. 86), ill. ISBN 0-7148-8014-0"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Victoria & Albert Museum. <font -u>A Picture Book of English Alabaster Carvings</font -u>, 1925, fig. 8."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"book","id":"AAT28051"},{"text":"palm","id":"AAT11894"},{"text":"veil","id":"AAT46128"},{"text":"gown","id":"AAT46161"},{"text":"cloak","id":"AAT46142"},{"text":"shoe","id":"AAT46065"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["A.3-1912"],"accessionNumberNum":"3","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1912,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-23","recordCreationDate":"2002-10-30","availableToBook":true}}