{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O828039"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O828039/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JF9029/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JF9029/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2016JF9029","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O828039/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O828039","accessionNumber":"E.1063-1919","objectType":"Print","titles":[{"title":"Girls' Head","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"The trademark product of A. & F. Pears was its transparent amber soap, which was developed and promoted as a great improvement on the harshness of contemporary soaps by the company's founder, Andrew Pears, at the turn of the 18th century.  In the mid-19th century, the company took on a new partner, Thomas J. Barratt to stave off fierce competition and to improve sales performance.  He devised a series of expensive and original publicity schemes, which involved reproducing celebrated paintings. Such 'artistic' advertising appeared in the UK in the 1880s. Barratt was particularly keen to use the work of Royal Academicians to add kudos and respectability to his product and so target middle-income customers. He also promoted art through the pages of <i>Pears Annual</i> (published 1890-1921, and price six pence until 1915). Presentation plates were given away as a separate package with the Annual. This image appeared on the cover of Pears' Annual in 1902. Pears bought the painting on which poster was based in November 1898.","physicalDescription":"Colour lithograph pictorial advertisement","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Lucien Davis","id":"AUTH316946"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":"after"},{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28674"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"A. & F. Pears Ltd.","id":"C1145"},"association":{"text":"publisher","id":"x32600"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"chromolithography","id":"AAT53272"},{"text":"Colour lithograph","id":"x35545"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Colour lithograph","categories":[{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"},{"text":"Advertising","id":"THES49001"},{"text":"Ephemera","id":"THES252985"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2016JF9029"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLC (VA)","id":"THES49171"},"free":"","case":"GG","shelf":"40","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"print","id":""}],[{"text":"drawing","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1899-1902","earliest":"1899-01-01","latest":"1902-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""},{"date":{"text":"1890 - 1910","earliest":"1890-01-01","latest":"1910-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Messrs A. & F. Pears ","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"43","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"sheet","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"32.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"sheet","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Various sizes.","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Pears","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Across top","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"Matchless for / the <u>Complexion</u>","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Across bottom","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"The strapline 'Matchless for the Complexion' was used by Pears between 1880-1920 according to information obtained from Unilever Archives.\r\n\r\nPears bought the painting 'Girl's Head' in November 1898.  This advert appeared on the cover of Pears' Annual in 1902.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Pictorial advertisement for Pears soap after a painting by Lucien Davis.  Great Britain, c. 1899-1902.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>Victoria & Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illlustration and Design & Department of Paintings, Accessions 1919</u>, London: His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1921."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[{"text":"","id":""}],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["E.1063-1919"],"accessionNumberNum":"1063","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":1919,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-29","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-30","availableToBook":false}}