Not currently on display at the V&A

W.S. Penley as Charley's Aunt

Figurine
ca.1914 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This figurine celebrates the most famous part ever played by William Sydney Penley (1852-1912), usually known as W.S. Penley (1852-1912) in the farce Charley's Aunt by Brandon Thomas, which opened at London's Royalty Theatre in December 1892. It shows Penley as Lord Fancourt Babberley, or 'Babbs', disguised as Donna Lucia d’Alvadorez, the aunt from Brazil - 'where the nuts come from'. The first figurine was made especially for Brandon Thomas; this model was introduced by Doulton in 1914. Two other versions were made but all were withdrawn by 1938.

Penley, a boy chorister at the Savoy Chapel, made his first stage appearance in 1875 in the original production of Trial By Jury, but made his name in 1884 as Reverend Robert Spalding in The Private Secretary at London's Globe Theatre. Penley was associated with this part until 1892 when he produced and starred in Charley's Aunt at Bury St. Edmunds. It was staged at the Royalty Theatre in London that December, and transferred to the Globe (now the Gielgud Theatre) in 1893. It was a huge success, achieving the record-breaking run of 1466 performances. Several different posters and souvenirs were produced during its run.

Royal Doulton began in Lambeth, London, in 1815 when John Doulton manufactured ceramic items such as stoneware bottles and sewer pipes. The Victorian revolution in hygiene and sanitation ensured its success, and Doulton later produced tableware and commemorative items. The firm expanded in 1882, purchasing a factory in Burslem in the Staffordshire Potteries area, and adding porcelain to its production two years later. It was granted a Royal Warrant in 1901. The Lambeth factory closed in 1956.





Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleW.S. Penley as Charley's Aunt (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Glazed porcelain
Brief description
Figurine of W.S. Penley (1852-1912) in the title role of the play Charley's Aunt by Brandon Thomas, a role which Penley first played at Bury St Edmunds, February 1892, and later in a record-breaking run in London. Royal Doulton, ca. 1914
Physical description
Polychromed glazed ceramic figurine of W. S. Penley as Lord Fancourt Babberley impersonating Charley's Aunt in the play Charley's Aunt, dressed in a black gown with a white lace shawl and a black headdress decorated with a pink flower.
Dimensions
  • Height: 18.0cm
  • Of base width: 9.8cm
  • Of base depth: 9.3cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'ROYAL DOULTON ENGLAND' (Stamped inside)
  • 'Mr W.S. Penley' (On one side of octagonal base)
  • [decorative curl] 'as' [decorative curl] (On one side of octagonal base)
  • 'Charley's Aunt' (On one side of octagonal base)
Credit line
Given by Donald Price
Object history

Production
This model, number HN 35 was produced by Royal Doulton between 1914 and 1938.

Attribution note: Doulton's production number: HN35
Subject depicted
Summary
This figurine celebrates the most famous part ever played by William Sydney Penley (1852-1912), usually known as W.S. Penley (1852-1912) in the farce Charley's Aunt by Brandon Thomas, which opened at London's Royalty Theatre in December 1892. It shows Penley as Lord Fancourt Babberley, or 'Babbs', disguised as Donna Lucia d’Alvadorez, the aunt from Brazil - 'where the nuts come from'. The first figurine was made especially for Brandon Thomas; this model was introduced by Doulton in 1914. Two other versions were made but all were withdrawn by 1938.

Penley, a boy chorister at the Savoy Chapel, made his first stage appearance in 1875 in the original production of Trial By Jury, but made his name in 1884 as Reverend Robert Spalding in The Private Secretary at London's Globe Theatre. Penley was associated with this part until 1892 when he produced and starred in Charley's Aunt at Bury St. Edmunds. It was staged at the Royalty Theatre in London that December, and transferred to the Globe (now the Gielgud Theatre) in 1893. It was a huge success, achieving the record-breaking run of 1466 performances. Several different posters and souvenirs were produced during its run.

Royal Doulton began in Lambeth, London, in 1815 when John Doulton manufactured ceramic items such as stoneware bottles and sewer pipes. The Victorian revolution in hygiene and sanitation ensured its success, and Doulton later produced tableware and commemorative items. The firm expanded in 1882, purchasing a factory in Burslem in the Staffordshire Potteries area, and adding porcelain to its production two years later. It was granted a Royal Warrant in 1901. The Lambeth factory closed in 1956.



Associated objects
Bibliographic reference
Royal Doulton Figures Produced at Burslem c.1890-1978 by Desmond Eyles and Richard Dennis
Collection
Accession number
S.1433-1986

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Record createdSeptember 19, 2005
Record URL
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