Earthenware flatbacks and figurines for mantelpiece decoration were first produced in Staffordshire in the late 1830s. The earliest datable figures appear to be of Queen Victoria. Production of earthenware figures continued throughout Victoria's lifetime, but although they were still made after her death in 1901, few appear to have been produced after 1905. During their heyday, however, they were produced in vast numbers, usually modelled after prints. They represented a wide variety of subjects but those of actors and actresses were especially popular.

Although no engraved source has been identified for this figure, it has been suggested that it represents Pericles in Shakespeare's tragedy Pericles, Prince of Tyre which was revived by Samuel Phelps at Sadler's Wells in October 1854, with Phelps taking the title role. With its long and complicated plot, the play had not been produced for two hundred years but Phelps gave it a spectacular production which ran for two months. Pericles has to solve a riddle, and the figurine could show him puzzling over this; later, after he has been away from his homeland for some time, he receives a letter from the lords of Tyre, summoning him to return, and this may be the episode depicted. A companion piece was issued, showing a woman leaning on an urn, which may represent Edith Heraud who played Marina.

This figure was given as a birthday present to the actor Robert Eddison by Peggy Ashcroft in June 1951, when they were both appearing at the Old Vic.