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Circus mug

Mug
unknown (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This early souvenir mug depicts some of the performing dogs in the 'dog-pieces' that were staged with great success at The Royal Circus in London's Blackfriars Road in the late 18th century. Two of the best canine stars were named Galert and Victor. They were so popular that they held daily receptions at the circus, and people flocked in hundreds to gaze upon and fondle them.

The Royal Circus opened in 1782, built by Charles Hughes and Thomas Dibdin on land previously occupied by a riding school. Dibdin's new theatre combined the stage of the traditional theatre with the newly-popular circus ring so that his spectacular shows could unite aspects of the stage and the ring. The Royal Circus burnt down and was rebuilt twice between 1782 and 1810 when it became the Surrey Theatre.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleCircus mug (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Glazed earthenware
Brief description
Mug decorated with underglaze images of performing circus dogs at the Royal Circus. Glazed earthenware, possibly Staffordshire
Physical description
Cream single-handed mug with underglaze blue-green transfer print of clowns and performing dogs. One dog is leaping over a cane held by the clown, one is dressed as a sailor smoking a pipe an is walking on his back legs, one sits on a chair wearing a ruff, one stands on his front paws with his back paws in the air, one balances on a ball and two, without ruffs, are sitting on chairs. Around the bottom of the mug is is written: ROYAL CIRCUS PERFORMING DOGS.
Dimensions
  • Height: 8.1cm
  • Of base diameter: 7.4cm
Marks and inscriptions
'ROYAL CIRCUS PERFORMING DOGS' (At the bottom of the body of the mug, above the base.)
Credit line
Antony Hippisley Coxe Collection
Subjects depicted
Summary
This early souvenir mug depicts some of the performing dogs in the 'dog-pieces' that were staged with great success at The Royal Circus in London's Blackfriars Road in the late 18th century. Two of the best canine stars were named Galert and Victor. They were so popular that they held daily receptions at the circus, and people flocked in hundreds to gaze upon and fondle them.

The Royal Circus opened in 1782, built by Charles Hughes and Thomas Dibdin on land previously occupied by a riding school. Dibdin's new theatre combined the stage of the traditional theatre with the newly-popular circus ring so that his spectacular shows could unite aspects of the stage and the ring. The Royal Circus burnt down and was rebuilt twice between 1782 and 1810 when it became the Surrey Theatre.
Bibliographic reference
The Circus in Ceramics by Antony Hippisley Coxe. Published in The Tatler and Bystander, 8 November 1957.
Other number
AHC6:16 - Hippisley Coxe Collection number
Collection
Accession number
S.23-1992

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Record createdApril 26, 2007
Record URL
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