Figurine of an unidentified man
Figurine
ca.1840 (made)
ca.1840 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
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. This flatback probably represents an actor in costume.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Figurine of an unidentified man (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Glazed earthenware |
| Brief description | Glazed earthenware flatback figure of an unidentified man, possibly an actor. Staffordshire, ca.1840 |
| Physical description | Glazed earthenware flatback. Standing figure of a man with black hair and a moustache on a white base, his right foot behind the left, his left hand on his hip, his right hand in front of him holding a scroll. He wears a large white hat with green and orange plumes, a white shirt, and a royal blue tight-waisted calf-length jacket. Gold lines decorate the coat and shirt. Green tights in overglaze green, the pigment badly chipped from the left leg. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996 |
| Summary | 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. This flatback probably represents an actor in costume. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.975-1996 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | June 22, 2006 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
