Queen Victoria
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. This represents the young Queen Victoria (1819-1901) and the earliest datable Staffordshire figures appear to be those of the Queen herself, who was crowned in 1837. Images of royalty proved lucrative and during the 1840s many royal figurines were issued by Staffordshire pottery firms, celebrating, for example, Victoria's marriage to Prince Albert in 1840, and the birth of the royal children. A figurine of Prince Albert was produced as a pair to this.
Although Staffordshire portrait figures were produced after Victoria's death in 1901, few appear to have been made after 1905. During their heyday however they were produced in vast numbers, usually modelled after prints. As well as the royal family they represented a wide variety of subjects, those of actors and actresses being especially popular.
Although Staffordshire portrait figures were produced after Victoria's death in 1901, few appear to have been made after 1905. During their heyday however they were produced in vast numbers, usually modelled after prints. As well as the royal family they represented a wide variety of subjects, those of actors and actresses being especially popular.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Queen Victoria (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Glazed earthenware |
| Brief description | Figurine of Queen Victoria. Glazed earthenware, Staffordshire, ca.1840 |
| Physical description | Staffordshire flatback figurine of Queen Victoria. The figure stands upright on an integral oval white base with her left hand down by her side and her right arm bent at her waist. She wears a full length dress with a white skirt decorated with vertical stipes and horizontal rows of green leaves and purple flowers. The bodice of the dress is royal blue, as is the full length cloak, which is trimmed with ermine. She has a white headdress with gold detail of line and dots, and a blue, red and gold necklace. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Two blue lines underglaze on base - 'l l' (but probably not a number) |
| Credit line | Richard Vincent Hughes Bequest |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Earthenware flatbacks and figurines for mantelpiece decoration were first produced in Staffordshire in the late 1830s. This represents the young Queen Victoria (1819-1901) and the earliest datable Staffordshire figures appear to be those of the Queen herself, who was crowned in 1837. Images of royalty proved lucrative and during the 1840s many royal figurines were issued by Staffordshire pottery firms, celebrating, for example, Victoria's marriage to Prince Albert in 1840, and the birth of the royal children. A figurine of Prince Albert was produced as a pair to this. Although Staffordshire portrait figures were produced after Victoria's death in 1901, few appear to have been made after 1905. During their heyday however they were produced in vast numbers, usually modelled after prints. As well as the royal family they represented a wide variety of subjects, those of actors and actresses being especially popular. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.322-1981 |
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| Record created | December 7, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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