{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O7772"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O7772/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AN9902/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AN9902/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AN9902","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AH7103","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AN4123","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O7772/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O7772","accessionNumber":"M.24-1970","objectType":"Sconce","titles":[{"title":"The Peacock Sconce","type":"popular title"}],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>This sconce (wall light) incorporates a peacock within its design, a favourite motif in the decorative arts of the late 19th century. It was always intended to be an exhibition piece.  Alexander Fisher (1864-1936) first showed this sconce, which he designed and made, at the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society in 1899 and again at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative Art in Turin, Italy, in 1902.<br><br><b>Materials & Making</b><br>Alexander Fisher initially trained as a silversmith at the South Kensington Schools, London (now the Royal College of Art), between 1881 and 1884.  Fired with an interest in enamelling by the French enameller Louis Dalpayrat, he went to Paris to study this art. Fisher mastered many different enamelling techniques and made specimen pieces demonstrating his mastery of them. In 1896 he wrote, 'The varieties of enamelling known as champlevé, cloisonné, basse taille, plique-à-jour and Limoges painting, I have mastered in turn...all these methods were used formerly before the present revival; but they were not so completely understood or carried so far as they are today, nor were the whole methods practised by any artist as they are now'.<br><br><b>People</b><br>Fisher was an influential teacher. His pupils mainly followed his painting technique, working with translucent colours over silver or copper covered with foils. Their compositions were based on a central figure and a specific theme.  Among his students were Nelson Dawson (1859-1942), Ernestine Mills and Lady Carmichael (who taught Phoebe Anna Traquair (1852-1936), whose work is featured in the 'Scottish School' display in the British Galleries).","physicalDescription":"The sconce, in the form of a peacock, enamelled in blue and green, has inscriptions on either side of the bird.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Fisher, Alexander","id":"A8387"},"association":{"text":"designer and maker","id":"x34662"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"steel","id":"AAT133751"},{"text":"bronze","id":"AAT10957"},{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"},{"text":"brass","id":"AAT10946"}],"techniques":[{"text":"enamelling","id":"AAT53773"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Steel, bronze, brass and silver, with enamelled decoration","categories":[{"text":"Lighting","id":"THES48925"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[{"text":"Art Nouveau","id":"AAT21430"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AN9902","2006AH7103","2006AN4123"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"125G (VA)","id":"THES49212"},"free":"","case":"WE","shelf":"","box":"14"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Sconce","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1899","earliest":"1894-01-01","latest":"1899-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":""},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"103.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"101","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"16.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"39","unit":"kg","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Weight includes backboard.","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: measured; 22/01/1999 by sf\n\nBackboard measured by LH on 19.7.99","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Reveal'd all things shall sometime be for living eyes that yearn to see'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"English","medium":"","method":"","position":"left of peacock (viewer's left)","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"Textual information","note":"Textual information; English; left of peacock (viewer's left)"},{"content":"'As black night spreads her wondrous tail, the dark shall flee and light prevail'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"English","medium":"","method":"","position":"right of peacock (viewer's right)","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"Textual information","note":"Textual information; English; right of peacock (viewer's right)"}],"objectHistory":"Designed and made by Alexander Fisher (born in  Stoke-on-Trent, 1864, died in London, 1936). Purchased from Mrs Diana Stickland, granddaughter of Alexander Fisher.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Sconce, steel, bronze, silver, brass and enamel, English, ca.1899, designed and made by Alexander Fisher.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Greenhalgh, Paul (Ed.), Art Nouveau: 1890-1914 . London: V&A Publications, 2000","id":"AUTH352192"},"details":"","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>Joyasde del Modernismo Artista a la Vanguardia</u>.  Barcelona: Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, 2010. p. 79, no. 42. ISBN 9788480432252"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"peacock","id":"x30077"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nAlexander Fisher was one of the most celebrated silversmiths working in the Arts and Crafts tradition.  He studied enamelling in Paris where he mastered a number of historical techniques which he adapted for jewellery and other decorative objects. This sconce is a 'tour de force' of the silversmith's skills and illustrates Fisher's confidence in using different metals with a variety of  techniques.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["M.24-1970"],"accessionNumberNum":"24","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1970,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LP8714","2019LP3946","2019LU8673","2019LW3737","2021NA4503"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-25","recordCreationDate":"1998-06-02","availableToBook":false}}