{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O92466"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O92466/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF4240/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF4240/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AF4240","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KF6134","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O92466/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O92466","accessionNumber":"MISC.241-1979","objectType":"Clockwork toy","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The 19th century saw the emergence and development of British dominance in East Asia, and the import-export business was a major source of income. The ports of China were thriving places, and the labourers who found work there loading and unloading the cargo ships were known as 'coolies'. The word derived from \"k'uli\" meaning 'bitter strength'.\r\n\r\nThis early-20th century mechanical toy shows two 'coolies' carrying a tea chest. The clockwork mechanism, which no longer functions, is contained inside the chest, it would have operated the two wheels beneath it and the two rods which extend from the top edge of the chest. Their hands are attached to the other ends of the rods. These rods are also connected to the upper legs of the two men. When working, the men would have walked bearing their load. The figures are wearing white jackets, red trousers, white socks and black caps and shoes. The chest has the trademark, Lehmann, a sunburst and the names of the ports Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tientsin, Peking, Nanking and Canton.","physicalDescription":"Two figures carrying a teachest clockwork toy with the mechanism hidden in the chest. The mechanism, which now no longer functions, would have operated the two wheels under the chest and two rods which extend from the top edge of the chest. The coolies' hands are attached to the other ends of the rods by the hands of the figures. These rods are also connected by a shorter one to the upper legs of the two men. When working the men would have walked bearing their load. The figures are wearing white jackets, red trousers, white socks and black caps and shoes. The chest has the trademark, Lehmann, a sunburst and the names of the ports Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tientsin, Peking, Nanking, Kanton.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"E. P. Lehmann","id":"A1170"},"association":{"text":"manufacturer","id":"x33306"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"tin","id":"AAT133748"},{"text":"fabric","id":"AAT162391"}],"techniques":[{"text":"pressing","id":"AAT53136"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pressed tin, fabric","categories":[{"text":"Children & Childhood","id":"THES48980"},{"text":"Dolls & Toys","id":"THES48967"},{"text":"Tea, Coffee & Chocolate wares","id":"THES48886"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"YVA","id":"THES48593"},"images":["2006AF4240","2017KF6134"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"SR001","id":"THES340938"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Mechanical toy","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Germany","id":"x28873"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1910","earliest":"1905-01-01","latest":"1914-12-31"},"association":{"text":"manufactured","id":"x29350"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Miss J. Rippin","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"13.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"17.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"6.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"on the tea chest is the trademark for  E.P.Lehmann","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Whilst the origins of the term 'coolie' can be traced to a Hindi word for 'day-labourer', referencing those who unloaded cargo from trade vessels, it increasingly became a stereotype applied to all people of Asian descent and is now considered offensive. It is repeated here in it's historic context. \r\n \r\nThis toy belonged to the donor's mother, Alice Bardrick (1897-1977), who spent her life in Leyton. It was given to the MoC in 1979 [79/1731].\r\n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Clockwork toy, two figures carrying a tea chest made in Germany by E.P.Lehmann about 1910","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Reason For Production: Retail","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"labourers","id":"AAT25888"},{"text":"tea chests","id":"AAT39143"},{"text":"tea","id":"AAT249828"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["MISC.241-1979"],"accessionNumberNum":"241","accessionNumberPrefix":"MISC","accessionYear":1979,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-21","recordCreationDate":"2004-02-10","availableToBook":false}}