Not currently on display at the V&A

Print Collection

Scrap
ca.1890 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Scraps first appeared in the early 19th century as black and white engravings, and were later coloured by hand. By the 1820s they had become more elaborate and sometimes embossed, and within a decade both the printing and embossing processes were automated. They were colour printed by chromolithography, and coated with a gelatine and gum layer to give them a gloss finish. After being embossed they were die-cut and put through a stamping press to cut away the unwanted areas of paper, leaving the individual images connected by small strips, often bearing the name or initials of the maker.

Scraps became extremely popular in Victorian England to be cut out by adults or children and stuck into albums, on to screens, or used for decorating greetings cards. This scrap is one of a series depicting Shakespearean characters played by popular actors and features the actress Kate Terry (1844-1924) who played Prince Arthur in Charles Kean's 1852 production of King John at the Princess's Theatre when she was eight years old.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitlePrint Collection (named collection)
Materials and techniques
Printed paper
Brief description
Shakespearean characters paper scrap depicting Mr. G. Bennett as Hubert with Kate Terry as Arthur, in Charles Kean's production of King John, Princess's Theatre 1852, Act IV scene 1. Chromolithograph printed by Siegmund Hildesheimer & Co., ca.1890. Aubrey Ensor Bequest.
Physical description
Multicoloured paper scrap as manufactured for cutting out, with printed lines of text, depicting Mr. G. Bennett as Hubert wearing a turquoise floor-length robe, with Kate Terry as Prince Arthur wearing a gold cape, standing on his left, her hands raised and clasped together as a supplicant, in King John Act IV scene 1. Chromolithograph printed by Siegmund Hildesheimer & Co., ca.1890, with the monogram of Siegmund Hildesheimer & Co., and the number 432. Printed with the title: CHARACTERS FROM SHAKESPEARE SHEET 5
Dimensions
  • Height: 14.8cm (irregular)
  • Width: 12.6cm (irregular)
Credit line
Given by the British Theatre Museum Association
Subjects depicted
Association
Literary reference<i>King John</i>
Summary
Scraps first appeared in the early 19th century as black and white engravings, and were later coloured by hand. By the 1820s they had become more elaborate and sometimes embossed, and within a decade both the printing and embossing processes were automated. They were colour printed by chromolithography, and coated with a gelatine and gum layer to give them a gloss finish. After being embossed they were die-cut and put through a stamping press to cut away the unwanted areas of paper, leaving the individual images connected by small strips, often bearing the name or initials of the maker.

Scraps became extremely popular in Victorian England to be cut out by adults or children and stuck into albums, on to screens, or used for decorating greetings cards. This scrap is one of a series depicting Shakespearean characters played by popular actors and features the actress Kate Terry (1844-1924) who played Prince Arthur in Charles Kean's 1852 production of King John at the Princess's Theatre when she was eight years old.
Associated object
S.3:1-2008 (Duplicate)
Other number
1973/A/119 - BTMA accession number
Collection
Accession number
S.62-2008

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Record createdJuly 30, 2009
Record URL
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