Not currently on display at the V&A

Celia in As You Like It

Figurine
ca.1880 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This figurine of Celia, one of a series of Shakespeare characters, was made in Paris by the company of Edmé Samson, a famous copyist of pottery and porcelain. Samson established his factory in Paris in 1845, producing pieces inspired by and copied from the work of famous factories, including Meissen, Sèvres, Chelsea, Derby and all the major factories of England, France and Germany, as well as tin-glazed earthenware or faience. He claimed to mark all pieces with his own double 'S' mark as well as the mark of the original piece, but in many cases his own mark is missing.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleCelia in As You Like It (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Glazed porcelain
Brief description
Figurine of Celia in Shakespeare's play As You Like It, Samson & Company copy. French, late 19th century
Physical description
Figurine of Celia standing on a rococo-style base decorated with gold lines, wearing a turquoise jacket with square-cut bodice and gold buttons and a purple skirt decorated with large floral patterns in green, maroon and gold. She wears a white hat with a blue feather and a gold-edged brim and has her right hand up in front of her and her left down by her side.
Dimensions
  • Approximately height: 15.5cm
  • Approximate maximum width width: 5.5cm
  • Of base width: 5.1cm
  • Of base depth: 6.0cm
Marks and inscriptions
'Madame Celia' (Inscribed in black on the base in cursive script.)
Credit line
Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996
Subject depicted
Literary referenceAs You Like It
Summary
This figurine of Celia, one of a series of Shakespeare characters, was made in Paris by the company of Edmé Samson, a famous copyist of pottery and porcelain. Samson established his factory in Paris in 1845, producing pieces inspired by and copied from the work of famous factories, including Meissen, Sèvres, Chelsea, Derby and all the major factories of England, France and Germany, as well as tin-glazed earthenware or faience. He claimed to mark all pieces with his own double 'S' mark as well as the mark of the original piece, but in many cases his own mark is missing.
Collection
Accession number
S.973-1996

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Record createdFebruary 23, 2006
Record URL
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