{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O828144"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O828144/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BE6231/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BE6231/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BE6231","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JF8973","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O828144","accessionNumber":"E.957-1919","objectType":"Print","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Cleopatra's Needle on the London Embankment was once one of a pair of obelisks erected circa 1450 BC in Helopolis, Egypt.  Gifted to the United Kingdom in 1819 by Muhammad Ali, the ruler of Egypt and Sudan, for Britain's role in the Battle of the Nile, it was not transported to London until 1877. A costly and complicated endeavour, a purpose-made iron cylinder was shipped to Alexandria from London and built around the obelisk to tow it back to Britain by sea.  Six men were killed when the ship ran into dangerous waters. Their names are engraved on a plaque at the base. \nA time capsule was also concealed in the base with two large earthenware jars including coins, cigars, pipes, newspapers, a portrait of Queen Victoria and \"photographs of a dozen pretty Englishwomen\", presented by Captain Henry Carter who had commandeered the mission to ship the obelisk. Many products seized on the popularity of the story, using images of Cleopatra's Needle to sell a range of goods including matches, Pond's Extract ointment, starched shirt fronts, and cotton thread.","physicalDescription":"Colour lithograph pictorial advertisements for super six cord sewing cotton, advertised as strong enough to tow Cleopatra's needle. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28674"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[{"text":"Colour lithograph","id":"x35545"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Colour lithograph","categories":[{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"},{"text":"Advertising","id":"THES49001"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2006BE6231","2016JF8973"],"imageResolution":"low","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":"1890 - 1910","earliest":"1890-01-01","latest":"1910-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"Various sizes.","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Anonymous pictorial advertisement for Chadwick's sewing cotton.  Great Britain, c. 1890-1910.","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":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[{"text":"Egypt","id":"x29512"}],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["E.957-1919"],"accessionNumberNum":"957","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":1919,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-05-02","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-30","availableToBook":false}}