Not currently on display at the V&A

Figurine

1921 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is one of several wax figurines executed by Agatha Walker in the 1920s, mostly of actors and actresses in character in successful London stage productions. The 19th century saw a craze for ceramic figurines of performers and Agatha Walker attempted to revive this tradition with her limited edition sculptures, modelled from life in plaster and coated with a fine layer of wax which was then coloured. In 1931 Agatha Walker's wax figures were exhibited at the Fine Art Society.

This represents the actress and singer Violet Marquesita as Lucy Lockit in John Gay's The Beggar's Opera which opened at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith on 5 June 1920. It was one of a set of characters from the opera produced by Agatha Walker in 1921. This revival of the 18th century operetta ran for three years and was revived in 1926, 1928 and 1929 at the Lyric Theatre, with the soprano Violet Marquesita again playing Lucy Lockit. The Beggar's Opera was a great success for the theatre's owner Sir Nigel Playfair who had purchased the lease of the derelict theatre building in 1918 in a syndicate. He transformed it into a highly successful venue, putting Hammersmith firmly on the theatrical map.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Moulded plaster, covered in wax and coloured
Brief description
Figurine of Violet Marquesita as Lucy Lockit in The Beggar's Opera, Lyric Hammersmith, 1920. Moulded plaster coated in wax and coloured, by Agatha Walker, 1921.
Physical description
Wax figurine of Violet Marquesita as Lucy Lockit in defiant stance, her arms clasped across her chest, looking to her left. She is wearing a mustard-coloured dress, carries an orange reticule, wears beads and gloves and has brown hair. She stands on an integral dark brown base.
Dimensions
  • Height: 25.0cm
  • At widest point, approximately, across hips width: 12.0cm
  • Of base width: 10.0cm
  • Of base depth: 17.1cm
  • Of base height: 2.4cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Base inscribed '267'
  • 'DAMAGED IN THE NAZI AIR RAID ON YORK 1945 MENDED AFTER 2 EYE OPERATIONS 1981, AS BEST I COULD' (written in biro, on the base)
  • 'Marquesita' (on left of base, incised)
  • 'Violet' (on right of base, incised)
  • '1921' and monogram AW (on back of base, incised)
  • 'LUCY LOCKIT' (on front of base, incised)
Credit line
Bequeathed by Mrs Nora Rowntree Ison
Object history
The revival of The Beggar's Opera by John Gay in which Violet Marquesita played Lucy Lockit opened at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, 5 June 1920.
Subject depicted
Association
Summary
This is one of several wax figurines executed by Agatha Walker in the 1920s, mostly of actors and actresses in character in successful London stage productions. The 19th century saw a craze for ceramic figurines of performers and Agatha Walker attempted to revive this tradition with her limited edition sculptures, modelled from life in plaster and coated with a fine layer of wax which was then coloured. In 1931 Agatha Walker's wax figures were exhibited at the Fine Art Society.

This represents the actress and singer Violet Marquesita as Lucy Lockit in John Gay's The Beggar's Opera which opened at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith on 5 June 1920. It was one of a set of characters from the opera produced by Agatha Walker in 1921. This revival of the 18th century operetta ran for three years and was revived in 1926, 1928 and 1929 at the Lyric Theatre, with the soprano Violet Marquesita again playing Lucy Lockit. The Beggar's Opera was a great success for the theatre's owner Sir Nigel Playfair who had purchased the lease of the derelict theatre building in 1918 in a syndicate. He transformed it into a highly successful venue, putting Hammersmith firmly on the theatrical map.
Bibliographic references
  • Stage Personalities. The Portrait Statuettes of Agatha Walker The Studio, vol. 101 (1931)
  • Review of a concert given by Violet Marquesita, Aeolian Hall, London, 27 October 1919, in The New Age magazine, Vol XXXVI, No.3, 20 November 1919,
Collection
Accession number
S.1307-1984

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Record createdNovember 7, 2005
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