Not currently on display at the V&A

Container

1905 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This powder bowl features a silver gilt lid decorated in typical Art Nouveau style with a raised symmetrical design incorporating a girl's head with hair flowing into a foliate and floral pattern. It was made to commemorate the 100th performance of The Rollicking Girl by W.T. Francis, with music by Sydney Rosenfeld, which opened at the Herald Square Theatre on Broadway on 1 May 1905. In the 19th century long runs of productions were often commemorated by the gift of special items, sometimes just for cast members, sometimes for those in the expensive seats and sometimes for the whole audience.

The musical was produced by Charles Frohman, the theatrical entrepreneur who had opened his own theatre, The Empire, in 1893, and who backed the first production of Peter Pan which opened in England, also in 1905. The composer William T. Francis had a large number of Broadway shows to his credit over a period of around ten years, none of which are well-known today. The Rollicking Girl ran for 192 performances till October 15 and enjoyed a short second run at the New York Theatre in April and May 1906. Despite Francis & Rosenfeld's relatively large output, little can be found other than references to their collective works.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Powder Bowl
  • Lid
Materials and techniques
Pressed glass and silver gilt
Brief description
Powder bowl issued to commmorate the 100th performance of The Rollicking Girl by W.T. Francis, with music by Sydney Rosenfeld at the New Herald Square Theatre, Broadway, on 7 September 1905. The musical opened on 1 May 1905. Glass with silver gilt lid, 1905.
Physical description
Clear glass powder bowl with a silver gilt lid decorated with Art Nouveau style raised foliate and floral pattern, incorporating the image of a girl's head with flowing hair. Issued to commemorate the 100th performance of The Rollicking Girl at the New Herald Square Theatre, 7 September 1905.
Dimensions
  • Including lid height: 7.5cm
  • Maximum width width: 11.0cm
  • Of base circumference: 8.5cm
  • Top of lid diameter: 9.0cm
  • Lower lip of lid diameter: 7.9cm
  • Maximum depth of lid depth: 3.0cm
Marks and inscriptions
'Herald Square Theatre CHARLES FROHMAN Manager MON Aug 7th 1905 100th PERFORMANCE SAM BERNARD in the Musical Play The Rollicking Girl with 80 Funmakers including HATTIE WILLIAMS JOE COYNE' (Printed on circular label pasted on the base on the pot.)
Credit line
Given by Mrs. Molly Lucas
Object history
The Rollicking Girl by W.T. Francis, with music by Sydney Rosenfeld opened on 1 May 1905 at the Herald Square Theatre in the heart of Manhattan's theatre district. The show was produced by Charles Frohman who had opened his own theatre, The Empire, in 1893. The composer William T. Francis had a large number of Broadway shows to his credit over a period of around ten years, none of which are known today. The Rollicking Girl, with a cast including Sam Bernard, Hattie Williams and Joseph Coyne, ran for 192 performances till October 15 and then enjoyed a short second run at the New York Theatre from during April and May of 1906 (31 performances). Despite Francis & Rosenfeld's (1856-1931) relatively large and important output, the history books seem to have forgotten them and little can be found other than reference to their collective works.

This powder bowl was issued to commemorate the 100th performance on 7 September 1905.
Summary
This powder bowl features a silver gilt lid decorated in typical Art Nouveau style with a raised symmetrical design incorporating a girl's head with hair flowing into a foliate and floral pattern. It was made to commemorate the 100th performance of The Rollicking Girl by W.T. Francis, with music by Sydney Rosenfeld, which opened at the Herald Square Theatre on Broadway on 1 May 1905. In the 19th century long runs of productions were often commemorated by the gift of special items, sometimes just for cast members, sometimes for those in the expensive seats and sometimes for the whole audience.

The musical was produced by Charles Frohman, the theatrical entrepreneur who had opened his own theatre, The Empire, in 1893, and who backed the first production of Peter Pan which opened in England, also in 1905. The composer William T. Francis had a large number of Broadway shows to his credit over a period of around ten years, none of which are well-known today. The Rollicking Girl ran for 192 performances till October 15 and enjoyed a short second run at the New York Theatre in April and May 1906. Despite Francis & Rosenfeld's relatively large output, little can be found other than references to their collective works.
Collection
Accession number
S.85&A-1981

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Record createdJanuary 12, 2006
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