{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O7413"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O7413/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF6998/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF6998/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AF6998","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O7413/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O7413","accessionNumber":"C.36-1980","objectType":"Figure","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This unique ceramic sculpture depicts a horned bull with a pronounced dewlap, standing on a rectangular base, with his tail curled round between his hind legs. A ring of mounds runs round the edge of the base, suggesting the boundary of a pen. There is no discernible opening, which raises the question of this object’s function. The many other Islamic figurines were probably used for pouring water, but this piece seems to be a unique survival of a small free-standing sculpture.","physicalDescription":"Figure of a bull standing on a rectangular base with the tail curled through his hind legs. With a thoracic hump and a pronounced dewlap.  Fritware, possibly moulded in two halves (there is a crack down the middle of the spine) before attachment to the base; transparent glaze, now almost entirely turned through burial an opaque silvery-mushroom colour.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"fritware","id":"x29419"},{"text":"ceramic","id":"AAT235507"}],"techniques":[{"text":"moulded","id":"AAT53134"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Fritware, possibly moulded in two halves, with a transparent glaze (now degraded)","categories":[{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"}],"styles":[{"text":"ISLAMIC","id":"x29301"},{"text":"Raqqa","id":"AAT21547"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"MES","id":"THES48607"},"images":["2006AF6998"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"42 (VA)","id":"THES49806"},"free":"","case":"WE7","shelf":"3","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure of a bull","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Ar Raqqah","id":"x29094"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"Syria","id":"x29200"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1200","earliest":"1195-01-01","latest":"1204-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"22.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"23.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"14","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Fritware figurine of a bull with his tail curled through his hind legs, Syria (possibly Raqqa), about 1200.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Tim Stanley (ed.), with Mariam Rosser-Owen and Stephen Vernoit, <i>Palace and Mosque: Islamic Art from the Middle East</i>, London, V&A Publications, 2004","id":"AUTH351313"},"details":"pp.49-50, plate 64","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"bull","id":"x30279"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Jameel Gallery\r\n\r\nOx Figurine\r\nSyria, perhaps Raqqah\r\nAbout 1200\r\n\r\nFigurines depicting animals and, more rarely, humans usually had some practical use, as does the small vase to the left. This ox, with a pronounced dewlap and tail curled between its hind legs, is remarkably realistic, but its function has not been established. \r\n\r\nMoulded fritware under an opaque white glaze\r\n\r\nMuseum no. C.36-1980","date":{"text":"2006","earliest":"2006-01-01","latest":"2006-12-31"}},{"text":"FIGURE OF A BULL, glazed white earthenware.\r\nSYRIAN; about 1200","date":{"text":"Old label","earliest":null,"latest":"2003-11-30"}}],"partNumbers":["C.36-1980"],"accessionNumberNum":"36","accessionNumberPrefix":"C","accessionYear":1980,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LR1692","2019LP9450","2019LT7772","2019LW4159"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"1998-02-11","availableToBook":false}}