Not currently on display at the V&A

Tinsel Print

20th November 1831 (published)
Artist/Maker

This print shows the actress Laura Honey as Don Juan. She is dressed in a blue and white silk skirt which ends just above the knee. This is worn with a jacket with a crimson silk bodice and green silk sleeves. The jacket is decorated with metallic gold motifs at the front fastenings, sleeve heads and wrists.

She is standing with her left arm upraised and carrying a long dagger in her right hand, the scabbard for which has been tucked in to a loose belt at her waist. Gold slippers, crimson stockings and a small crimson cap with gold tassel complete her outfit.

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 the actress Laura Honey as Don Juan, 1831.
Physical description
The actress is dressed in a blue and white silk skirt which ends just above the knee. This is worn with a jacket with a crimson silk bodice and green silk sleeves. The jacket is decorated with metallic gold motifs at the front fastenings, sleeve heads and wrists.
She is standing with her left arm upraised and carrying a long dagger in her right hand, the scabbard for which has been tucked in to a loose belt at her waist. Gold slippers, crimson stockings and a small crimson cap with gold tassel complete her outfit.
Dimensions
  • Height: 31.5cm
  • Width: 25.3cm
Measurements given are for the cardboard in which the image is mounted.
Marks and inscriptions
Transliteration
Subject depicted
Literary referenceDon Juan
Summary
This print shows the actress Laura Honey as Don Juan. She is dressed in a blue and white silk skirt which ends just above the knee. This is worn with a jacket with a crimson silk bodice and green silk sleeves. The jacket is decorated with metallic gold motifs at the front fastenings, sleeve heads and wrists.

She is standing with her left arm upraised and carrying a long dagger in her right hand, the scabbard for which has been tucked in to a loose belt at her waist. Gold slippers, crimson stockings and a small crimson cap with gold tassel complete her outfit.

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.2033-1986

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Record createdMarch 11, 2010
Record URL
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