Ceramic
- Place of origin:
Staffordshire, England (made)
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
Albert Toft, born 1862 - died 1949 (designer)
Doulton Ceramic Factory (makers)
- Materials and Techniques:
Moulded and glazed earthenware
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
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This figurine celebrates the most famous part ever played by William Sydney Penley, or 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 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 Two other versions were made but all were withdrawn by 1938.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 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 the success of the firm which later produced tableware and commemorative items. Doulton moved to Burslem in the Potteries in 1882, attaining a Royal Warrant in 1901.
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.
Place of Origin
Staffordshire, England (made)
Date
ca.1914 (made)
Artist/maker
Albert Toft, born 1862 - died 1949 (designer)
Doulton Ceramic Factory (makers)
Materials and Techniques
Moulded and glazed earthenware
Marks and inscriptions
ROYAL DOULTON ENGLAND
Mr W.S. Penley
(decorative curl) as (decorative curl)
Charlie's Aunt
Dimensions
Height: 18.0 cm, Weight: 9.8 cm of base, Depth: 9.3 cm of base
Object history note
This represents W.S. Penley (1851-1912) as Lord Fancourt Babberley, dressed as Donna Lucia d’ Alvadorez, Charley's aunt from Brazil, in Charley's Aunt the farce by Brandon Thomas that Penley first produced at Bury St. Edmunds in 1892. The play transferred to the Royalty Theatre in December 1892 and transferred to the Globe Theatre in 1893. Charley's Aunt transferred to the Globe Theatre in 1893 and achieved the record-breaking run for its day of 1,466 performances. It was withdrawn in December 1896 but revived on several occasions.
Royal Doulton first produced this figurine in 1913 for Brandon Thomas, the author of Charley's Aunt. The 1913 model with the black dress, Royal Doulton Figure HN35, was followed with two other colour scheme models in 1924. All were withdrawn by 1938.
Descriptive line
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. Earthenware, Royal Doulton, 1913.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Royal Doulton Figures Produced at Burslem c.1890-1978 by Desmond Eyles and Richard Dennis
Production Note
This model, number HN 35 was produced by Royal Doulton between 1914 and 1938.
Attribution note: Doulton's production number: HN35
Materials
Porcelain; Glaze
Subjects depicted
Penley, William Sydney
Categories
Entertainment & Leisure; Figures & Decorative ceramics
Production Type
Mass produced
Collection code
T&P
