James Henry Hackett as Sir John Falstaff
Figurine
ca.1852 (made)
ca.1852 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Stars of the 19th century theatre were often celebrated in paintings, prints and drawings, and in ceramic figurines. Several Staffordshire factories specialised in moulded earthenware portrait figurines which were decorated by hand and sold cheaply. This represents the American actor James Henry Hackett (1870-1871) as Falstaff. Hackett made his first appearance in 1826 and became famous for his portrayal of Yankee characters. He came to London as a star in 1833 where his roles included Rip Van Winkle and Falstaff.
The pose was copied from an engraving published in Tallis's Shakespeare Gallery, 1852-1853, showing Falstaff in Act 4, scene 2 of Henry IV Part 1, standing in the open air. At least seven earthenware portrait figurines were copied from this source and are known as Tallis figures. They were made in many sizes, probably by the Burslem potters Thomas Parr (who was working from 1852 until 1870), John Parr (working from 1870 to 1879), or the Kent & Parr firm (working from1880 until 1894). These manufacturers passed the moulds to each other and the figures were produced throughout the Victorian period. This piece was made in two sizes, of virtually identical design.
The pose was copied from an engraving published in Tallis's Shakespeare Gallery, 1852-1853, showing Falstaff in Act 4, scene 2 of Henry IV Part 1, standing in the open air. At least seven earthenware portrait figurines were copied from this source and are known as Tallis figures. They were made in many sizes, probably by the Burslem potters Thomas Parr (who was working from 1852 until 1870), John Parr (working from 1870 to 1879), or the Kent & Parr firm (working from1880 until 1894). These manufacturers passed the moulds to each other and the figures were produced throughout the Victorian period. This piece was made in two sizes, of virtually identical design.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | James Henry Hackett as Sir John Falstaff (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Glazed earthenware |
| Brief description | Figurine of James Henry Hackett (1800-1871) as Sir John Falstaff. Glazed earthenware by Thomas Parr, Burslem, Staffordshire, ca.1852 |
| Physical description | Glazed earthenware figure of James Henry Hackett as Falstaff, standing on a base decorated to appear as if a grassy mound with the name FALSTAFF on it, with a staff in his right hand, his left hand held close to his waist. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'FALSTAFF' (Painted on the base) |
| Credit line | Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996 |
| Object history | The engraving on which this is based is from Tallis' Shakespeare Gallery and is inscribed: MR HACKETT AS FALSTAFF Fal: There's but a shirt and a half in all my company: and the half shirt is two napkins tacked together, and thrown over the shoulders like a herald's coat without sleeves: and the shirt to say the truth, stolen from my host at St. Alban's |
| Production | Modelled after the engraving by C. Jeens in Tallis' The Shakespeare Gallery (1852-1853), after a daguerrotype by P. Haas, New York. Known as a 'Tallis figure'. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Association | |
| Literary reference | King Henry IV |
| Summary | Stars of the 19th century theatre were often celebrated in paintings, prints and drawings, and in ceramic figurines. Several Staffordshire factories specialised in moulded earthenware portrait figurines which were decorated by hand and sold cheaply. This represents the American actor James Henry Hackett (1870-1871) as Falstaff. Hackett made his first appearance in 1826 and became famous for his portrayal of Yankee characters. He came to London as a star in 1833 where his roles included Rip Van Winkle and Falstaff. The pose was copied from an engraving published in Tallis's Shakespeare Gallery, 1852-1853, showing Falstaff in Act 4, scene 2 of Henry IV Part 1, standing in the open air. At least seven earthenware portrait figurines were copied from this source and are known as Tallis figures. They were made in many sizes, probably by the Burslem potters Thomas Parr (who was working from 1852 until 1870), John Parr (working from 1870 to 1879), or the Kent & Parr firm (working from1880 until 1894). These manufacturers passed the moulds to each other and the figures were produced throughout the Victorian period. This piece was made in two sizes, of virtually identical design. |
| Associated objects |
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| Bibliographic reference | Staffordshire Portrait Figures of the Victorian Era by P.D. Gordon Pugh, pp.33, 62, fig.3. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.984-1996 |
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| Record created | January 13, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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