{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O71896"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O71896/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM7203/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM7203/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM7203","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O71896/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O71896","accessionNumber":"79-1904","objectType":"Statuette","titles":[{"title":"Offering to Hymen","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This bronze statuette is entitled 'Offering to Hymen' and is cast by the famous British sculptor Sir Alfred Gilbert ca. 1884-1886.\r\n\r\nVarious versions of this statuette exist, including one with plaster details in the Winchester Museum. In some versions the female figure holds a silver goblet or sprig of hawthorn; in this case she holds a sprig of hawthorn together with a statuette depicting Anteros, which she presents to the god of marriage, Hymen.\r\n\r\nSir Alfred Gilbert was a famous British sculptor of the late 19th century. He was also a medallist, goldsmith and draughtsman and was known for his inventiveness and characteristically used various materials in the same work. Upon his many commissions for monuments and memorials is the celebrated Eros figure as part of the Shaftsbury memorial (1885-1893) on Piccadilly Circus.","physicalDescription":"The statuette is in the form of a nude girl holding a flower in one hand and a winged figure in the other; mounted on an octagonal base with winged figures and masks at the corners.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Gilbert, Alfred (Sir)","id":"A8429"},"association":{"text":"sculptor","id":"AAT25181"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"bronze","id":"AAT10957"}],"techniques":[{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Bronze","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Myths & Legends","id":"THES49005"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2006AM7203"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES396152"},"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":"ca. 1884 - ca. 1886","earliest":"1879-01-01","latest":"1890-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"30.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"1.62","unit":"kg","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Was in the collection of Alfred Higgins at the time of his death. Purchased at the sale of a collection of plaquettes, statuettes, etc., the property of the late Alfred Higgins, Esq., C.B., held at Christie, Manson and Woods on 29 January, lot.no. 39, described as a 'nude statuette of a girl, holding in her hand the figure of Victory'. Purchased for £24 5s 1d by Mr F.E. Whelan of Messrs Rollin and Feuardent on behalf of the Museum. ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Statuette, bronze, 'An Offering to Hymen', by Sir Alfred Gilbert, England, ca. 1884-1886","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Bilbey, Diane with Trusted, Marjorie, British Sculpture 1470 to 2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2002, p. 276, cat. no. 421"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Beattie, Susan. <u> The New Sculpture</u> New Haven and London: Yale, 1983, p. 143"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"McAllister, Isabel. <u>Alfred Gilbert.</u> London: A & C Black Ltd, 1929, p. 88, 144-5"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"The Fine Art Society. Exhibition Catalogue. <u>Gibson and Gilbert- British Sculpture 1840-1914.</u> London, 1992. pp. 53-5, no. 61"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>Sir Alfred Gilbert and The New Sculpture, British Sculpture 1850-1930.</u> London: The Fine Art Society, 2008, p. 52"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Dorment, R. <u>Alfred Gilbert Sculptor and Goldsmith</u>. (exh. cat.), Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1986, pp. 112-4"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Inventory of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in the Years 1903 - 1904. <u>In</u>: <u>List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, During the Year 1904, Arranged According to the Dates of  Acquisition with Appendix and Indices</u>. London: Printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office, by Wyman and Sons, Limited, 1908, p. 15"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Jonathan Marsden, <u>European Sculpture in the Collection of His Majesty the King</u>, London, 2025, vol. IV, pp. 279-280, 1284."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"girl","id":"AAT247581"},{"text":"flower","id":"x43340"},{"text":"figure, winged","id":"x40431"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["79-1904"],"accessionNumberNum":"79","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1904,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-28","recordCreationDate":"2002-12-11","availableToBook":true}}