Circus mug
Mug
unknown (made)
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.
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 | |
Title | Circus 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 |
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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 created | April 26, 2007 |
Record URL |
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