{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O89347"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O89347/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF2944/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF2944/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AF2944","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JW3166","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O89347/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O89347","accessionNumber":"A.19-1953","objectType":"Head","titles":[{"title":"A Fool's Head","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The prime function of jets seems to have been to signify that pilgrims had completed their journeys, and reached the shrine of St James (the patron Saint of Spain) at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, which pilgrims did over the course of six hundred years, from the twelfth to the eighteenth century. Many seem to have formed beads of rosaries. In structure jet is a particularly dense type of coal, and can be carved and polished. Medicinal and indeed magical qualities were thought to be inherent in the substance from earliest times. Jet is found in different parts of Europe (as well as North America), but the two richest regions are the Asturias in northern Spain, and Whitby, Yorkshire, in North East England.\r\n\r\nThis piece represents a fool's head and it's precise function is uncertain. It is possible that it was the pommel of a jester's stick. It may have been connected somehow with the Feasts of Fools when 'the holiest offices and orders were made matters of the lightest jesting'. References to such festivities occur from the thirteenth to the seventeenth century.","physicalDescription":"Grinning head with stylised tightly-curled hair, a large nose, wrinkled forehead and a ruff-like collar set on an integral bulbous base, on which are carved three shells. A smooth disc is carved on the back.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Jet","id":"AAT45514"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Jet","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2006AF2944","2017JW3166"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES396261"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Head","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Spain","id":"x29170"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1550-1700","earliest":"1545-01-01","latest":"1700-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh FSA","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"7.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"3.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A., 1953.","historicalContext":"It's precise function is uncertain; it is possible that it was the pommel of a jester's stick. It may have been connected somehow with the Feasts of Fools when 'the holiest offices and orders were made matters of the lightest jesting'. References to such festivities occur from the thirteenth to the seventeenth century.","briefDescription":"Head, of a fool, jet, Spanish (Santiago de Compostela), about 1550-1700","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Trusted, Marjorie. <u>Spanish sculpture : catalogue of the post-medieval Spanish sculpture in wood, terracotta, alabaster, marble, stone, lead and jet in the Victoria and Albert Museum.</u> London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996, pp.154, cat. no. 86."},{"reference":{"text":"<i>Santiago de Compostela : 1000 ans de pèlerinage Européen ; Europalia 85 España</i>, Bruxelles : Crédit Communal, 1985","id":"AUTH356813"},"details":"234","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"<i>Santiago, Camino de Europa : Culto y cultura en la peregrinacón a Compostela</i>, Santiago : Xunta de Galcia, 1993","id":"AUTH356815"},"details":"150","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"head","id":"x37855"},{"text":"fool","id":"AAT11112"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["A.19-1953"],"accessionNumberNum":"19","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1953,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LW5817"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-25","recordCreationDate":"2004-01-14","availableToBook":true}}