{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O78702"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O78702/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM7279/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM7279/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM7279","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London/John Thomson","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O78702/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O78702","accessionNumber":"PH.342-1982","objectType":"Photograph","titles":[{"title":"November Effigies","type":"assigned by artist"},{"title":"Street Life in London","type":"series title"}],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>The photographer John Thomson (1837-1921) used the 'Woodburytype' process patented in 1864 for the images in <i>Street Life in London</i>, including this photograph. This was a type of photomechanical reproduction using pigmented gelatin, usually of a rich purple-brown colour. The process was complicated but remained popular until about 1900 because of the high quality and permanence of the finished images.<br><br><b>Subjects Depicted</b><br>The 'November Effigies' were makeshift figures traditionally made and carried through the streets in November by boys who asked for money for their handiwork. The figure was based on the image of Guy Fawkes (1570-1606), a Roman Catholic who had plotted to blow up the Houses of Parliament and James I (reigned 1603-1625) on 5 November 1605, in order to rid Britain of its Protestant rulers. Fawkes was caught, tortured and brutally executed, his body finally being burned. After a procession, the 'November Effigy' was ritually set alight on a bonfire on 5 November every year, to commemorate the events of the failed treason plot and Fawkes's execution. However, the poor often saved the clothes from the effigy for next year's figure and used only the straw packed inside it for the fire.<br><br><b>Real or Posed?</b><br>The people in the pictures were arranged or posed by Thomson to form interesting compositions. However, the results were often naturalistic because the subjects and surroundings were always authentic.","physicalDescription":"Photograph","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Thomson, John","id":"A8914"},"association":{"text":"photographer","id":"AAT25687"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[{"text":"photography","id":"AAT54225"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Woodburytype","categories":[{"text":"Photographs","id":"THES48910"},{"text":"Scotland","id":"THES262877"},{"text":"Europeana Fashion Project","id":"THES265804"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2006AM7279"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLF","id":"THES49656"},"free":"","case":"X","shelf":"37","box":"A"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"photograph","id":"AAT46300"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1877-1878","earliest":"1877-01-01","latest":"1878-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Mrs D. Crisp","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"11","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"unmounted","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: Measured; 04/10/2000 by PaperCons\n\nestimated mount size prviously given as 38.1 x 26.6","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Taken in London by John Thomson (born in Edinburgh, 1837, died in London, 1921)","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"November effigies","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nPHOTOGRAPHS FROM 'STREET LIFE IN LONDON'<br>\nThese photographs were first published in 12 instalments in 1877-1878 in a series entitled 'Street Life in London'. John Thomson had earlier photographed in China and recognized London as a remarkable new subject. Together with journalist Adolphe Smith he wrote commentaries on each image. 'Street Life' is among the earliest and most evocative examples of social documentary photography.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["PH.343-1982"],"accessionNumberNum":"343","accessionNumberPrefix":"PH","accessionYear":1982,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LP7999","2019LT1769","2019LW7790"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-27","availableToBook":false}}