Not currently on display at the V&A

Figurine of Gwen Frangcon-Davies as Mrs Sidney Herbert in The Lady with a Lamp
Figurine
1929 (made)

Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is one of several wax figurines executed by Agatha Walker in the 1920s, mostly of actors and actresses in costume for roles in successful productions on the London stage. The 19th century saw a craze for ceramic figurines of performers and Agatha Walker attempted to revive this tradition with her limited edition sculptures. They were modelled from life in plaster and coated with a fine wax layer which was then coloured. In 1931 Agatha Walker's wax figures were exhibited at the Fine Art Society.

This figurine represents the actress Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies (1891-1992) as Mrs Sidney Herbert, or Lady Herbert of Lea, in The Lady With a Lamp, a new play about the life of Florence Nightingale by Ronald Berkeley. It opened at London's Arts Theatre on 5 January 1929 and after ten performances transferred to the Garrick Theatre where it stayed until the middle of June, achieving a run of 164 performances. Edith Evans played Florence Nightingale, and critics noted that the two star actresses were perfect foils to each other.



Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleFigurine of Gwen Frangcon-Davies as Mrs Sidney Herbert in <i>The Lady with a Lamp</i (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Moulded plaster, covered with wax and coloured
Brief description
Figurine by Agatha Walker of Gwen Frangcon-Davies as Mrs Sidney Herbert, Lady Elizabeth Herbert of Lea, in The Lady with a Lamp, by Reginald Berkeley, Arts Theatre, 1929. Moulded plaster coated in wax and coloured
Physical description
Wax figurine of Gwen Ffrangcon-Davis as Mrs Sidney Herbert standing on an integral brown base and wearing a cream blouse and cream and brown striped, two-tiered, full- length skirt. She also wears a black shawl with red and orange floral decoration and a black hat with a cream feather. She is holding an umbrella in her left hand. Both her hands are in front of her at waist height.
Dimensions
  • Height: 30.0cm
  • At widest point of her skirt width: 19.0cm
  • Of base width: 14.1cm
  • Of base depth: 10.8cm
  • Of base height: 3.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Frangcon-Davies' (on left of base, incised)
  • 'Gwen' (on right of base, incised)
  • '1921' and monogram AW, also the letters 'J V N F' (with the F underlined) arranged in a square. (on back of base, incised)
  • 'LADY HERBERT OF LEA' (on front of base, incised)
Credit line
Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996
Subject depicted
Summary
This is one of several wax figurines executed by Agatha Walker in the 1920s, mostly of actors and actresses in costume for roles in successful productions on the London stage. The 19th century saw a craze for ceramic figurines of performers and Agatha Walker attempted to revive this tradition with her limited edition sculptures. They were modelled from life in plaster and coated with a fine wax layer which was then coloured. In 1931 Agatha Walker's wax figures were exhibited at the Fine Art Society.

This figurine represents the actress Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies (1891-1992) as Mrs Sidney Herbert, or Lady Herbert of Lea, in The Lady With a Lamp, a new play about the life of Florence Nightingale by Ronald Berkeley. It opened at London's Arts Theatre on 5 January 1929 and after ten performances transferred to the Garrick Theatre where it stayed until the middle of June, achieving a run of 164 performances. Edith Evans played Florence Nightingale, and critics noted that the two star actresses were perfect foils to each other.

Bibliographic reference
Stage Personalities. The Portrait Statuettes of Agatha Walker The Studio, vol. 101 (1931)
Collection
Accession number
S.1042-1996

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Record createdNovember 7, 2005
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