{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O79355"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O79355/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BT3296/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BT3296/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2008BT3296","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BT3295","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O79355/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O79355","accessionNumber":"1489-1873","objectType":"Earring","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The 1851 Great Exhibition inspired a series of ‘London International Exhibitions’ which took place in South Kensington in 1871, 1872, 1873 and 1874. Fine arts and scientific inventions and discoveries remained central display themes but each exhibition presented different aspects of manufacture. In 1872 one emphasis was on jewellery, including ‘peasant jewellery’. The Exhibition Commissioners arranged with the South Kensington Museum (later V&A) to make a collection of peasant jewellery from ‘all parts of the world, which should become public property, for exhibition in the Museum after the close of the Exhibition’. A letter was sent by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to British representatives overseas asking for their help in securing pieces of jewellery, particularly examples with ‘a direct connection with the native instinctive art, which has been handed down by a long tradition’. The outcome was considered to be ‘most satisfactory … a collection of characteristic ornaments never before equalled was obtained’. \r\n\r\nThis earring, originally one of a pair, is part of this collection. Described as ‘Moorish’ at the time, its thick hollow hoop, stud on the side, and pendants hanging from the base, are all typical of earrings worn in Morocco.  This design is not found anywhere else in North Africa, but similar earrings were worn with traditional dress in central Spain until the early 20th century, demonstrating the common Moorish heritage of both cultures.  The little bird in the centre is probably a symbol of fertility.","physicalDescription":"Penannular silver earring with four pendants.  The earring is made from a crescent of tubular sheet silver ending in a point at the top, and a round cap at the lower end.  There is a small flat cast stylised image of a bird standing on the lower part of the tube, inside the central space.  The outside of the tube is decorated with a pierced geometrical pattern and there is a domed button attached in its centre.  There are four loops attached to the lower edge, each supporting a closed conical pendant with coral and green glass beads above and below it.  Each pendant ends in a lozenge of sheet silver stamped on both sides with a star-shaped pattern.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"},{"text":"coral","id":"AAT11800"},{"text":"beads","id":"x35177"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Repoussé and engraved silver with coral and green glass beads","categories":[{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"},{"text":"Africa","id":"THES49019"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MES","id":"THES48607"},"images":["2008BT3296","2008BT3295"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES394946"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Earring","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Morocco","id":"x30052"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1800-1872","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1872-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"12","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"6.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Crescent diameter 6 cm","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Acquired by the Exhibition Commissioners of the London International Exhibition of 1872 as an example of 'peasant jewellery' and then transferred to the South Kensington Museum.\r\nAppears 1489A-1873 went to the Circulation department and is now lost.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Silver crescent-shaped tubular earring with a stylised bird in the centre and conical pendants, Morocco, 1800-1872.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<i>List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington Museum, acquired during the year 1873</i>, London: George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode"}],"production":"North Africa","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"bird","id":"x35043"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["1489-1873"],"accessionNumberNum":"1489","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1873,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-25","recordCreationDate":"2003-04-02","availableToBook":true}}