Not currently on display at the V&A

Characters From Shakespeare. Sheet 6.

Scrap
ca.1890 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Scraps first appeared in the early 19th century as black and white engravings, and were later coloured by hand. By the 1820s they had become more elaborate and sometimes embossed, and within a decade both the printing and embossing processes were automated. They were colour printed by chromolithography, and coated with a gelatine and gum layer to give them a gloss finish. After being embossed they were die-cut and put through a stamping press to cut away the unwanted areas of paper, leaving the individual images connected by small strips, often bearing the name or initials of the maker.

Scraps became extremely popular in Victorian England to be cut out by adults or children and stuck into albums, on to screens, or used for decorating greetings cards. This scrap is one of a series depicting Shakespearean characters played by popular actors. Edmund Kean first starred in Richard III at London's Drury Lane Theatre, 12 February 1814.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleCharacters From Shakespeare. Sheet 6. (series title)
Materials and techniques
Printed paper
Brief description
Shakespearean characters paper scrap depicting Edmund Kean (1787-1833) as King Richard III, with two child actors as Edward Prince of Wales and Richard Duke of York from KING RICHARD III, Drury Lane Theatre, 12 February 1814. Chromolithograph printed by Siegmund Hildesheimer & Co., ca.1890. Aubrey Ensor Bequest.
Physical description
Full-colour chromolithograph scrap depicting Edmund Kean as Richard III wearing an ermine-trimmed cape and crown, his hands crossed in front of his chest, standing with two un-named actors in blue tunic and hose as Edward Prince of Wales and Richard Duke of York. To the left of King Richard's head is printed some of the dialogue from RICHARD III with the attribution: 'KING RICHARD III Act III scene 1. The scrap is complete as a sheet before cutting, giving the name of the series, the number of the item and the monogram of the printer.
Dimensions
  • Maximum height height: 14.5cm
  • Maximum width width: 12.4cm
Copy number
433
Marks and inscriptions
Monogram, entwined letters S.H & Co., printed in gold (Monogram of Siegmund Hildesheimer & Co,. London, New York & Manchester, 1888-1927.)
Gallery label
5, 6, 7 Tinsel prints and scraps One of the earliest forms of souvenirs was the tinsel print. These were not ready made, but had to be painstakingly assembled by glueing punched metal shapes and bits of cloth on to an engraving of a celebrity or character. Another popular pastime was compiling scrapbooks. Sheets could be bought featuring a series of characters to be collected and pasted in as keepsakes. Tinsel print showing John Thomas Haines as Brian de Bois in Ivanhoe About 1830 Paper and metal Museum no. S.2037–1986 Book with sheets of pieces for tinsel prints 1800-1900 Paper and metal Given by M.W. Stone Museum no. S.34–1981 Scrap for a Shakespeare character card: Richard III 1800-1900 Printed card Given by British Theatre Museum Association Museum no. S.63–2008(March 2009 - March 2014)
Credit line
Given by the British Theatre Museum Association
Object history
Edmund Kean appeared as Richard III at Drury Lane Theatre, 12 February 1814
Subjects depicted
Association
Literary reference<i>Richard III</i>
Summary
Scraps first appeared in the early 19th century as black and white engravings, and were later coloured by hand. By the 1820s they had become more elaborate and sometimes embossed, and within a decade both the printing and embossing processes were automated. They were colour printed by chromolithography, and coated with a gelatine and gum layer to give them a gloss finish. After being embossed they were die-cut and put through a stamping press to cut away the unwanted areas of paper, leaving the individual images connected by small strips, often bearing the name or initials of the maker.

Scraps became extremely popular in Victorian England to be cut out by adults or children and stuck into albums, on to screens, or used for decorating greetings cards. This scrap is one of a series depicting Shakespearean characters played by popular actors. Edmund Kean first starred in Richard III at London's Drury Lane Theatre, 12 February 1814.
Associated objects
Other number
1973/A/119 - BTMA accession number
Collection
Accession number
S.63-2008

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Record createdMarch 3, 2008
Record URL
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