{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O79699"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O79699/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BT3286/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BT3286/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2008BT3286","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019LY3334","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O79699/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O79699","accessionNumber":"1103-1869","objectType":"Torque","titles":[{"title":"Torque","type":""}],"summaryDescription":"A torque is a stiff metal ring, usually open at the front, which is worn round the neck.  They were originally made of twisted metal, as the name implies, and were used as indications of rank in Celtic times.  They survived as part of the traditional jewellery in a number of places. \r\n\r\nThis torque, described as a ‘<i>Tok</i>’, was acquired in Cairo before 1869, and carries Egyptian silver marks from the mid-19th century.  It was described as ‘modern Egyptian’, when acquired but was probably made for women of the Siwa oasis, in the desert between Egypt and Libya.  The jewellery of Siwa is different from that worn elsewhere in Egypt, and huge torques, like this, are one of the most characteristic items.  The word ‘<i>Tok</i>’ simply means torque in Arabic, but the word ‘<i>Aghraw</i>’ is Berber in origin and specific to the torques of Siwa.\r\n","physicalDescription":"Silver torque, made from a hoop of thick silver wire bent into a hook at one end and a loop at the other.  The end of wire used for the loop is wrapped several times round the end of the hoop.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"silver","categories":[{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"},{"text":"Africa","id":"THES49019"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MES","id":"THES48607"},"images":["2008BT3286","2019LY3334"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES375443"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Torque","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Egypt","id":"x29512"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1839-1869","earliest":"1839-01-01","latest":"1869-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Width","value":"21.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'٨٠', a crescent and a stylised lion, in an oval frame.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"stamped","position":"","script":"","translation":"Mark for 800 standard silver, Egypt, <i>c</i>.1839-1920.","transliteration":"80","type":"","note":"On front."},{"content":"'٨٠' over wavy line with a loop at the right end, in square frame.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Mark for 800 standard silver.","transliteration":"80M","type":"","note":"On front."},{"content":"Calligraphic monogram in Arabic.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Tughra of the Ottoman Sultan.","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"On front."}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Large heavy silver torque (Aghraw) with a loop and hook fastening, and three stamped marks, Siwa (Egypt), 1839-1869.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["1103-1869"],"accessionNumberNum":"1103","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1869,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2003-04-08","availableToBook":true}}