{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O72765"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O72765/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM6375/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM6375/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM6375","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O72765/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O72765","accessionNumber":"376-1906","objectType":"Statuette","titles":[{"title":"The Sower","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This sculpture was acquired by the Museum from the sculptor Reginald Fairfax Wells in 1906 as a characteristic example of his work. One magazine article of the time observed that 'some have spoken of Mr Wells as the English Millet of Sculpture', a reference to the acclaimed painter of peasants in mid-19th-century France, Jean-François Millet, and to Millet's painting <i>The Sower</i> of 1850. \n\nWells (1877-1951) initially trained at the Camberwell School of Art, and during the late 1890s at the Royal College of Art under the supervision of Edouard Lanteri. He later studied ceramics at the Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts. Wells became particularly renowned for his small-scale bronzes, most of which were produced between 1900 and 1910. From about 1909 onwards he became increasingly interested in ceramics. A number of examples of his pottery are in the Museum's Ceramics and Glass Department. He established the Coldrum Pottery, Wrotham around 1900. At the outbreak of the First World War he closed the pottery and began designing and manufacturing aircraft. On the failure of his aviation business he established the London Pottery Company, Chelsea, relaunching the business with the optimistically named 'SOON' ware - 'soon' representing the anticipated timing of his success in the venture. \n","physicalDescription":"The sower is placed on a base and has his left leg bent forward. He wears a hat and around his shoulders is a bag from where he takes out the seeds with his right hand.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Wells, Reginald","id":"A2802"},"association":{"text":"sculptor","id":"AAT25181"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"bronze","id":"AAT10957"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Bronze","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Figures & Decorative ceramics","id":"THES48954"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2006AM6375"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"38A","id":"THES49826"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"Exhibition side ","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Statuette","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1900 - ca. 1905","earliest":"1895-01-01","latest":"1909-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"29.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"07/03/2022","earliest":"2022-03-07","latest":"2022-03-07"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"3.08","unit":"kg","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"24/05/2016","earliest":"2016-05-24","latest":"2016-05-24"},"part":"statuette without plinth","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"3.56","unit":"kg","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"24/05/2016","earliest":"2016-05-24","latest":"2016-05-24"},"part":"whole sculpture (with plinth)","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"0.48","unit":"kg","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"24/05/2016","earliest":"2016-05-24","latest":"2016-05-24"},"part":"plinth only","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"13.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"07/03/2022","earliest":"2022-03-07","latest":"2022-03-07"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"12","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"07/03/2022","earliest":"2022-03-07","latest":"2022-03-07"},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'R.F. WELLS'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"signed on the base"}],"objectHistory":"Purchased from the sculptor in 1906 for £10 10s. Originally held in the Circulation Department, but transferred to the Department of Architecture and Sculpture (later Sculpture Department) in 1956.","historicalContext":"The present figure was acquired as a characteristic example on Well's work.\r\nLike some 19-century French artists, such as the sculptor Jules Dalou and the painter Jean-François Millet, Wells depicted ordinary rural workers. Wells cast this figure himself using the lost-wax process. The rough surface of the bronze seems to accord with the realism of the subject.","briefDescription":"Statuette, bronze, The Sower, by Reginald Fairwax Wells, England, ca. 1900-1905","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Bilbey, Diane with Trusted, Marjorie, <u>British Sculpture 1470 to 2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum</u>, London, 2002, p. 476, cat. no. 768"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in the Years 1905 - 1908. <u>In</u>: <u>List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, During the Year 1906, Arranged According to the Dates of  Acquisition with Appendix and Indices</u>. London: Printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, 1909, p. 68"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"man","id":"x35641"},{"text":"sower","id":"x43612"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Like some 19th-century French artists, such as the sculptor Jules Dalou and the painter Jean-François Millet, Wells depicted ordinary rural workers. Wells cast this figure himself using the lost-wax process. The rough surface of the bronze seems to accord with the realism of the subject.","date":{"text":"March 2007","earliest":"2007-03-01","latest":"2007-03-31"}}],"partNumbers":["376-1906"],"accessionNumberNum":"376","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1906,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LR1798","2019LT2135","2019LW0403"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-21","recordCreationDate":"2003-01-09","availableToBook":false}}