This is one of several wax figurines executed by Agatha Walker in the 1920s, mostly of actors and actresses in character in successful London 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 wax layer which was then coloured. In 1931 Agatha Walker's wax figures were exhibited at the Fine Art Society.

This figurine represents Edith Evans (1888-1976) as Florence Nightingale in a new play The Lady with a Lamp by the New Zealand author Reginald Berkeley. It opened at London's Arts Theatre on 5 January 1929 and after ten perfomances transferred to the Garrick Theatre, where it stayed until the middle of June, achieving a run of 164 performances. Edith Evans made her first professional stage appearance in 1912 and she was already acknowledged as a star by the time she was cast as Florence Nightingale. Agatha Walker made a companion wax of Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies as Lady Herbert of Lea, who was by all accounts a perfect foil to Edith Evans in this production.