Ali Baba
Figurine
ca.1840 (made)
ca.1840 (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 based on prints, decorated by hand and sold cheaply. It has been suggested that this figurine represents the famous 19th century comedian John Liston as Ali Baba at Covent Garden Theatre in 1818. However, in The Forty Thieves, first produced at Covent Garden on 27 September 1818, Ali Baba was played by William Blanchard (1769-1835). Blanchard was an English comedian who worked as an actor in Britain from 1875 and made his first appearance in London at Covent Garden Theatre in 1800 as Bob Acres in Sheridan's play The Rivals. Apart from a short appearance in New York in 1831, Blanchard remained at Covent Garden until his death.
A companion to this figurine was issued representing the character Morgiana, played in the 1818 production by Maria Foote (1797-1867). She was also portrayed in other Staffordshire figurines, notably as the jockey Arinette.
A companion to this figurine was issued representing the character Morgiana, played in the 1818 production by Maria Foote (1797-1867). She was also portrayed in other Staffordshire figurines, notably as the jockey Arinette.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Ali Baba (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Glazed earthenware |
| Brief description | Figurine, possibly of William Blanchard in the title role of Ali Baba, Theatre Royal Covent Garden, 27 September 1818, Staffordshire, earthenware, ca.1840 |
| Physical description | Figure of Ali Baba with a black goatee beard, standing against a white column on a circular gilt-lined base, his right hand resting on his hip, his left arm raised to his chest, holding a gold drinking vessel. He is wearing a white turban detailed with gold lines, a blue thigh-length jacket over a pink tunic spotted in green and held at the waist with a white sash, and white pantaloons. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996 |
| Subject depicted | |
| 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 based on prints, decorated by hand and sold cheaply. It has been suggested that this figurine represents the famous 19th century comedian John Liston as Ali Baba at Covent Garden Theatre in 1818. However, in The Forty Thieves, first produced at Covent Garden on 27 September 1818, Ali Baba was played by William Blanchard (1769-1835). Blanchard was an English comedian who worked as an actor in Britain from 1875 and made his first appearance in London at Covent Garden Theatre in 1800 as Bob Acres in Sheridan's play The Rivals. Apart from a short appearance in New York in 1831, Blanchard remained at Covent Garden until his death. A companion to this figurine was issued representing the character Morgiana, played in the 1818 production by Maria Foote (1797-1867). She was also portrayed in other Staffordshire figurines, notably as the jockey Arinette. |
| Bibliographic reference | Staffordshire Portrait Figures of the Victorian Era bu P.D. Gordon Pugh, fig.256.
Victorian Staffordshire Figures 1835-1875 by A & N. Harding, fig.1132.
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.1027-1996 |
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| Record created | May 8, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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