{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O91879"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O91879/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CA2864/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CA2864/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009CA2864","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2009CA2863","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KR6354","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O91879/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O91879","accessionNumber":"M.121-1953","objectType":"Balance standard","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Goldsmiths used a balance standard to weigh out amounts of silver and gold in the workshop. This one has a stem supporting an arm in the shape of a dragon poised on a central pivot, with holes for supporting weights at one end and a hook for hanging the weighing pan at the other. \r\n\r\nThe base crawls with snakes, a frog, snail and twisted tree roots, possibly inspired by the innovative techniques of the Nuremberg goldsmith, Wenzel Jamnitzer, who made silver casts of real insects, shells and plants. The baby clutching a skull is perhaps a symbol of the vanity of human life, a much-depicted theme of the period.","physicalDescription":"Gilt bronze with circular base, cast and chiselled with a putto, its hand resting on a skull, the standard composed of three figures with vases between, the figure of a crowned dragon on top with a hook","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Gilt bronze, cast and chiselled","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Tools & Equipment","id":"THES48883"},{"text":"Science","id":"THES48898"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2009CA2864","2009CA2863","2018KR6354"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"63 (VA)","id":"THES49737"},"free":"","case":"CA6","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Balance standard","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Nuremberg","id":"x29057"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"possibly"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1550-1600","earliest":"1550-01-01","latest":"1600-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Mrs M. Russell","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"31","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"10","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Unmarked","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":"A8728"},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Acquisition RF: 53/3486\nRussell Gift (Bought from the Rosenheim Collection)\n\nExhibitions:\nBurlington Arts Club, 1906\n\nSold Sotheby's May 9 - 11/1923, Lot 400; a similar example in the Cleveland Museum is complete with scales. See Helen S. Foote 'Goldsmiths' scales in gilt bronze' Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum  of Art, Vol. XLI (1954) pp. 26-28","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Scientific instrument","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Possibly inspired by the work of the Jamnitzer workshop in Nuremberg","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"snake (animal)","id":"x30204"},{"text":"frog (amphibian)","id":"x35658"},{"text":"snail","id":"x31284"},{"text":"dragons","id":"x30096"},{"text":"tree","id":"x37637"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Silver Gallery:\nGoldsmiths used a balance standard to weigh out amounts of silver and gold in the workshop. This one has a stem supporting an arm in the shape of a dragon poised on a central pivot, with holes for supporting weights at one end and a hook for hanging the weighing pan at the other. The base crawls with snakes, a frog, snail and twisted tree roots, possibly inspired by the innovative techniques of the Nuremberg goldsmith, Wenzel Jamnitzer, who made casts of insects, shells and plants. The baby clutching a skull is perhaps a symbol of the vanity of human life, a much-depicted theme of the period.","date":{"text":"26/11/2002","earliest":"2002-11-26","latest":"2002-11-26"}}],"partNumbers":["M.121-1953"],"accessionNumberNum":"121","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1953,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LU8762","2019LX0569"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-11-14","recordCreationDate":"2004-02-09","availableToBook":false}}