{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O77667"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O77667/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2024NW4520/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2024NW4520/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2024NW4520","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AP7226","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2011ET3839","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AD0123","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AD0120","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AD0114","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AD0094","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AD0087","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AM8330","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O77667/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O77667","accessionNumber":"5669-1859","objectType":"Tapestry","titles":[{"title":"Esther hearing of Haman's Plot","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>Rich and noble families often owned large numbers of tapestries, which could be transported as required from house to house. They were hung on the walls, where they helped to insulate draughty rooms as well as adding colour and interest to an interior. Some tapestries told a story, while others had a decorative design using popular motifs.<br><br><b>Design & Designing</b><br>There were two main stages to the design of a tapestry. First, a preliminary sketch was made. This was then converted into a full-size drawing, or cartoon, in which the design was shown in greater detail. The weavers followed this cartoon. Generally, the workshops employed a skilled craftsman  to produce cartoons from the existing stock of designs, or by 'borrowing' from outside sources. Renowned artists were used only for important commissions.<br><br><b>Subjects Depicted</b><br>The story comes from the Old Testament. Esther was the wife of Xerxes, King of Persia. Haman, the King's favourite minister, enraged with Mordecai the Jew, has persuaded King Ahasuerus to issue a decree 'to destroy, to kill, to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old', throughout his lands. Unaware that Queen Esther is Jewish, the King allowed Haman to order the massacre. \n\nThe tapestry shows Hatach the chamberlain bringing to Esther a copy of the King's decree. The Queen has risen from a chair placed on a platform and stands and looks upwards in consternation, her hands clasped. Groups of courtiers and ladies in waiting, one holding a lute, are standing in the foreground. In the background, copies of the decree are sent to the governors of the provinces, and Esther with her maids is seen in lamentation. \n\nThere is a narrow border tightly packed with flowers and leaves on wavy stems, on a dark blue ground. <br><br>The subject  was a favourite theme, particularly on tapestries of the15th and 16th century. A number of these survive, including two unrelated examples in the V&A, the piece described here and another  with a different scene. Both Henry VIII and his Lord Chancellor, Cardinal Wolsey, owned Esther tapestries and several sets are listed in the numerous entries for tapestries in the inventory of Henry VIII's possessions.","physicalDescription":"Tapestry showing a scene from the story of Esther","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"wool yarn","id":"x30441"},{"text":"silk thread","id":"x30127"}],"techniques":[{"text":"tapestry","id":"AAT61981"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Tapestry-woven in wool and silk. 18 warp threads to inch (7 to cm).","categories":[{"text":"Tapestry","id":"THES48887"},{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2024NW4520","2006AP7226","2011ET3839","2006AD0123","2006AD0120","2006AD0114","2006AD0094","2006AD0087","2006AM8330"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"58E (VA)","id":"THES49233"},"free":"","case":"WS","shelf":"","box":"6"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Tapestry","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Brussels","id":"x31976"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1500-1525","earliest":"1500-01-01","latest":"1525-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bought in 1859 from the Soulages Collection for £25","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"344","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"398","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: Measured; 30/08/2000 by KB/DW\n\nAGD catalogue, 1-99 gives dims as H 350.5; W.396.2. Remeasured by KB at BH. Dims may vary slightly when hanging.","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Esther hearing of Haman's Plot","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Baker, Malcolm, and Brenda Richardson (eds.), <i>A Grand Design: The Art of the Victoria and Albert Museum</i>, London: V&A Publications, 1999.","id":"AUTH348910"},"details":"","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Esther","id":"N588"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"figures (representations)","id":"AAT189808"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nSets of imported tapestries were used in palaces and great houses as luxurious wall hangings that also served to insulate against draughts. The contemporary dress of the figures underlined the relevance for the Tudor court of this Old Testament story where virtue overcomes evil. Queen Esther saved the Jewish people from destruction, against the advice of Haman, the King's evil minister. In the centre the Queen stands by her throne in anguish. In the foreground a messenger makes his way between groups of courtiers.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["5669-1859"],"accessionNumberNum":"5669","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1859,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LR1365","2019LR5815","2019LV7148"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-25","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-27","availableToBook":false}}