Not currently on display at the V&A

Jessica

Figurine
ca.1880 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This figurine of Shylock's daughter Jessica, one of a series of Shakespeare characters, was made in Paris by the company of Edmé Samson, a famous copyist of pottery and porcelain. Samson established his factory in Paris in 1845, producing pieces inspired by and copied from the work of famous factories, including Meissen, Sèvres, Chelsea, Derby and all the major factories of England, France and Germany, as well as tin-glazed earthenware or faience. He claimed to mark all pieces with his own double 'S' mark as well as the mark of the original piece, but in many cases his own mark is missing.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleJessica (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Glazed porcelain
Brief description
Figurine of Jessica in Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice, Samson & Company copy of a Crown Derby figure. French, late 19th century
Physical description
Figurine of Jessica with long hair, a pink head-dress, a white blouse patterned with a red floral pattern, a blue sash, and a lime green skirt over which is wrapped a royal blue overskirt patterned with a gold foliate pattern. She looks in front of her, her right arm extended in front of her at waist height, her left hand down by her side.
Dimensions
  • Height: 15.0cm
  • Maximum width width: 6.8cm
  • Of base depth: 5.5cm
  • Of base width: 5.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
'Jessica' (Inscribed in black on the base in cursive script.)
Credit line
Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996
Subject depicted
Literary referenceThe Merchant of Venice
Summary
This figurine of Shylock's daughter Jessica, one of a series of Shakespeare characters, was made in Paris by the company of Edmé Samson, a famous copyist of pottery and porcelain. Samson established his factory in Paris in 1845, producing pieces inspired by and copied from the work of famous factories, including Meissen, Sèvres, Chelsea, Derby and all the major factories of England, France and Germany, as well as tin-glazed earthenware or faience. He claimed to mark all pieces with his own double 'S' mark as well as the mark of the original piece, but in many cases his own mark is missing.
Collection
Accession number
S.965-1996

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Record createdFebruary 24, 2006
Record URL
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