Susannah Cibber as La Vivandière
Figurine
ca.1770 (made)
ca.1770 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This figurine represents the celebrated 18th century actress Susannah Cibber (1714-1766) as Sigismunda La Vivandière in James Thomson's tragedy Tancred and Sigismunda. In the 18th century a vivandière was a woman who sold food and drink to soldiers and was often a soldier's wife. Susannah Cibber played Sigismunda to the Tancred of David Garrick at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 1756. Garrick played Tancred in the original production in 1845 and he frequently revived the play at Drury Lane.
The figurine was produced by the Derby factory as a pair to the figurine of Garrick as Tancred. The Derby porcelain factory was established in about 1750 by the Huguenot, Andrew Planche. In partnership with William Duesbury they produced figures of extremely high quality. By 1770, Duesbury acquired the famous Chelsea China Works and the Bow moulds which resulted in the transfer of a number of extremely skilled craftsmen from London to Derby. They opened a London showroom in 1773, and in 1775 King George III granted the factory the honour of being able to incorporate a crown into the backstamp.
Another soft-paste porcelain figure in the V&A, painted with enamels and gilded, modelled on Susannah Cibber in the role, was made by William Duesbury & Co., for the Derby factory in 1765
The figurine was produced by the Derby factory as a pair to the figurine of Garrick as Tancred. The Derby porcelain factory was established in about 1750 by the Huguenot, Andrew Planche. In partnership with William Duesbury they produced figures of extremely high quality. By 1770, Duesbury acquired the famous Chelsea China Works and the Bow moulds which resulted in the transfer of a number of extremely skilled craftsmen from London to Derby. They opened a London showroom in 1773, and in 1775 King George III granted the factory the honour of being able to incorporate a crown into the backstamp.
Another soft-paste porcelain figure in the V&A, painted with enamels and gilded, modelled on Susannah Cibber in the role, was made by William Duesbury & Co., for the Derby factory in 1765
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Susannah Cibber as La Vivandière (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Glazed porcelain |
| Brief description | Polychromed glazed porcelain figurine of Susannah Cibber (1714-1766) as Sigismunda, La Vivandière in James Thomson's play Tancred and Sigismunda. Its first production was on 18 March 1745, but this was probably modelled after the production at Drury Lane in 1756 when she played opposite David Garrick as Tancred. Probably Derby, ca.1777-80. Robert Eddison Collection. |
| Physical description | Glazed porcelain figurine representing Susannah Cibber as Sigismunda standing on a rococo style swirly base decorated in turquoise and gold enamel with modelled leaves and flowers on the base. She wears a head-scarf, a green jacket bordered in mauve, a yellow and dark orange skirt decorated with floral patterns in four-lobed large patterns and small green flowers, and wears pale lemon buckled shoes. Holding bottles in a basket. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'S' and '28' over '1' (Impressed mark) |
| Credit line | Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996 |
| Object history | This figurine represents Susannah Cibber as Sigismunda in the play Tancred and Sigismunda by the Scottish author James Thomson (1700-1748) which was first performed at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 1745 but which Susannah Cibber played in 1756 with David Garrick as Tancred. The V&A owns another Derby figure of Mrs Cibber in the role (museum no:414:186-1885). An identical figure to that one was sold at Dreweatts Auction, Donnington Priory, in a lot with a Derby figure of Sir John Quinn as Falstaff, 15th April 2015 with an estimate of £200-£300 |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This figurine represents the celebrated 18th century actress Susannah Cibber (1714-1766) as Sigismunda La Vivandière in James Thomson's tragedy Tancred and Sigismunda. In the 18th century a vivandière was a woman who sold food and drink to soldiers and was often a soldier's wife. Susannah Cibber played Sigismunda to the Tancred of David Garrick at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 1756. Garrick played Tancred in the original production in 1845 and he frequently revived the play at Drury Lane. The figurine was produced by the Derby factory as a pair to the figurine of Garrick as Tancred. The Derby porcelain factory was established in about 1750 by the Huguenot, Andrew Planche. In partnership with William Duesbury they produced figures of extremely high quality. By 1770, Duesbury acquired the famous Chelsea China Works and the Bow moulds which resulted in the transfer of a number of extremely skilled craftsmen from London to Derby. They opened a London showroom in 1773, and in 1775 King George III granted the factory the honour of being able to incorporate a crown into the backstamp. Another soft-paste porcelain figure in the V&A, painted with enamels and gilded, modelled on Susannah Cibber in the role, was made by William Duesbury & Co., for the Derby factory in 1765 |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.999-1996 |
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| Record created | June 26, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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