Not currently on display at the V&A

Tinsel Print

7 December 1835 (published)
Artist/Maker

A tinsel print entitled Mr Bland as the Ocean King. It shows the actor seated on a shell throne. He is dressed in a white silk tunic ornamented with a central row of metal shells. This is worn over armour of metallic fish scales and with a bright silk crimson cloak.

Tinsel prints were created from etched portraits of theatrical stars in popular roles they played on the London stage. They were hand-painted in watercolour and decorated with scraps of material and tinsel additions. They were popular during the first half of the 19th century and were considered an adult, rather than a child's hobby. By the 1830s it was possible to buy the tinsel, leather and feather ornaments to go with each image.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Brief description
Tinsel print of Mr Bland as the Ocean King, ca. 1835
Physical description
Mr Bland is seated on a large shell throne floating in the midst of the ocean. He is dressed in a white silk tunic over a blue fish scale armour. A crimson silk cloak is visible behind him and he carries a trident in his left hand.
Dimensions
  • Height: 24cm
  • Width: 19.3cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • ENTHOVEN FILE (Pencil annotation, bottom right hand corner)
  • Transliteration
Subject depicted
Summary
A tinsel print entitled Mr Bland as the Ocean King. It shows the actor seated on a shell throne. He is dressed in a white silk tunic ornamented with a central row of metal shells. This is worn over armour of metallic fish scales and with a bright silk crimson cloak.

Tinsel prints were created from etched portraits of theatrical stars in popular roles they played on the London stage. They were hand-painted in watercolour and decorated with scraps of material and tinsel additions. They were popular during the first half of the 19th century and were considered an adult, rather than a child's hobby. By the 1830s it was possible to buy the tinsel, leather and feather ornaments to go with each image.
Collection
Accession number
S.1307-1983

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Record createdMarch 11, 2010
Record URL
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