{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O85253"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O85253/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AH2199/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AH2199/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AH2199","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O85253/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O85253","accessionNumber":"S.392:45-2002","objectType":"Caricature","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This caricature is of the American hypnotist and illusionist H. Ahrensmeyer, when he was performing at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, during the week of 23 January 1904. He was billed as ‘the American Cowboy Wonder Ahrensmeyer. The New Psychic Force. Stands Unrivalled and Alone. The Wizard of the Plains’. It is one of the many superb caricatures of Edwardian music hall performers that were drawn by the artist George Cooke when he was based at the Grand Theatre. He compiled them in a series of albums. \r\n\r\nAhrensmeyer was an expert self-publicist. He undertook stunts such as driving a horse and carriage blindfolded through towns where he was performing, including London and Hanley. His stage act included hypnotising audience members to make them do comical things, using bogus mediums to contact spirits, and passing ladies’ hatpins through his cheeks, tongue and nose, or cutting his finger with a razor - all without drawing blood. Another of his tricks was to swallow a gold watch and chain and to invite an audience member to hear it ticking before returning it.","physicalDescription":"Pen, ink and wash caricature of the cowboy hypnotist H. Ahrensmeyer on a pink page of an album of caricatures by George Cooke.  He is shown wearing a Canadian-style ranger's hat, a fringed sueded jacket with a flower-patterned border, tan fringed trousers and a red shirt and tie.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Cooke, George","id":"A10376"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Pen and ink","id":"x30618"},{"text":"Watercolour","id":"x33202"}],"techniques":[{"text":"Drawn","id":"x30545"},{"text":"Painted","id":"x30138"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pen and ink and wash on paper","categories":[{"text":"Caricatures & Cartoons","id":"THES48983"},{"text":"Drawings","id":"THES48966"},{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2006AH2199"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES352333"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"drawings","id":"AAT33973"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Hanley","id":"x32079"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1904","earliest":"1899-01-01","latest":"1908-12-31"},"association":{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"25","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"18","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"To Mr George Cook (sic) Yours Sincerely H. Ahrensmeyer Cowboy Hypnotist.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"Pen and ink","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"Signature","note":"Signature; Pen and ink"}],"objectHistory":"The caricature comes from an album of sketches by the graphic artist George Cooke and features music hall performers working in the early 20th century. The album is dated 1903-4-5.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Caricature of the music hall performer H. Ahrensmeyer, an American hypnotist and illusionist, from an album of caricatures drawn by George Cooke. January 1905.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"1904 probably","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.392:45-2002"],"accessionNumberNum":"392","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2002,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-09","recordCreationDate":"2003-11-06","availableToBook":true}}