{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O75704"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O75704/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NA4569/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NA4569/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021NA4569","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NA4570","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NA4571","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NA4572","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AK5593","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O75704","accessionNumber":"A.98-1980","objectType":"Statue","titles":[{"title":"Tahitian woman","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"On acquisition in 1980 this figure was seen to complement sculptures by Eric Gill already in the Museum's collection, as well as the woodcuts, engravings and first edition books by Gibbings, which were held by the Department of Prints and Drawings and the National Art Library respectively. The stone and slate sculptures by Gill were subsequently transferred to the Tate Gallery, London, in 1982. This figure of a Tahitian woman was almost certainly inspired by a visit Gibbings made to Tahiti in 1929. The sculpture is not signed or dated, but was probably produced between about 1929 and 1931, when Gibbings was in close contact with Gill and becoming interested in sculpture while running the Golden Cockerell Press.\n\nGibbings (1889-1958) is best known as a book illustrator, wood engraver and writer. Only four sculptures by him are known, including this piece. He studied under Noel Rooke (1881–1953), an influential teacher at the Central School of Art and Crafts in London. Gibbings took over the Golden Cockerel Press in 1925, which was started in 1920 at Waltham St Lawrence, near Twyford. It was not until Gibbings took over that it made its reputation with some handsome books issued with wood-engraved illustrations by such names as Eric Gill, David Jones, Eric Ravilious and Gibbings, just to name a few. The most important work of the Press was an edition of the Four Gospels (1931) with decorations by Eric Gill. ","physicalDescription":"The naked figure is represented in half-length, in relief, her arms hanging down the sides of her body, and her head turned to her right in profile. The stylised carving around her thighs suggests water.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Gibbings, Robert","id":"A2866"},"association":{"text":"sculptor","id":"x43862"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Hopton Wood stone","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Portraits","id":"THES48906"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2021NA4569","2021NA4570","2021NA4571","2021NA4572","2006AK5593"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"21","id":"THES49848"},"free":"","case":"CA004","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Statue","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1929 - ca. 1931","earliest":"1924-01-01","latest":"1935-12-31"},"association":{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"74","unit":"cm","qualifier":"incl. base","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Given to Mrs Hazel Hunkins-Hallinan by the artist around 1940. Bought from Mrs Hunkins-Hallinan, London, for £2,000 under the Post-1920 Sculpture Fund, in 1980.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Statue, Hopton Wood Stone, A Tahitian Woman, by Robert Gibbings, Britain, ca. 1929-1931","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. 453, cat. no. 744"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Andrews, Martin J., 'The life and work of Robert Gibbings', Bicester: Primrose Hill Press: 2003, In: <u>The Burlington Magazine</u>, 146, 2004, p. 121"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Empson, P.E. (ed.), <u>The Wood Engravings of Robert Gibbings</u>, London, 1959, pls pp. 349-50"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"woman","id":"x35642"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Robert Gibbings (1889–1958)\r\n<i>Tahitian Woman</i>\r\nAbout 1927–31\n\r\nThis is a rare sculpture by Gibbings, a book illustrator and wood engraver. He met Eric Gill in 1925 and they worked together at the Golden Cockerel Press in Waltham St Lawrence, Berkshire. During this time, Gill taught Gibbings how to carve, and this work is very much in Gill’s style. Although Gibbings visited Tahiti in 1929, he made this sculpture in London using a model whose identity is now unknown.\n\r\nLondon\r\nHoptonwood stone","date":{"text":"2021","earliest":"2021-01-01","latest":"2021-12-31"}},{"text":"Gibbings was a book illustrator and wood engraver. He met Eric Gill in 1925 and they worked together at the Golden Cockerel Press. During this time, Gill taught him how to carve, and this work is very much in Gill's style. It was made in  London using an unknown model, but Gibbings did also visit Tahiti in 1929.","date":{"text":"March 2007","earliest":"2007-03-01","latest":"2007-03-31"}}],"partNumbers":["A.98-1980"],"accessionNumberNum":"98","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1980,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN5549","2019LT3048","2019LW5146"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-08-05","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-03","availableToBook":false}}