Not currently on display at the V&A

Poster advertising the foot-juggler, Edwin Moxon

Poster
ca.1880 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This poster was used by Edwin Moxon (1857-1845) who was born in Reading and ran away to join the circus, aged 17. In the 19th century variety and circus performers needed to have their own posters which could be sent to prospective managers when applying for work and could be overposted with the name of venues and appearance dates.

Edwin Moxon travelled all over the world performing a balancing and foot-juggling act in circuses and variety theatres. He performed in Russia for seven years, spoke several languages fluently and had thirteen children. When they were old enough, the two eldest children were trained to join him in the family act, the Moxon Trio. His thirteenth child Eileen, who used the stage name Levanda, performed the act in circus and cabaret in the 1940s with her daughter Judy, appearing as Levanda and Van. Judy went on to travel the world with the act independently in the 1960s, performing tricks that feature on this poster, passed down from her grandfather via her mother.




Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePoster advertising the foot-juggler, Edwin Moxon (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Printed paper
Brief description
Poster advertising the foot-juggling act of Edwin Moxon (1857-1945), colour lithograph by Creber, Plymouth, ca.1880
Physical description
Colour lithograph poster illustrated with a selection of balancing and juggling tricks performed by Edwin Moxon and the Moxon Trio.
Dimensions
  • Height: 44.1cm
  • Width: 70.0cm
Credit line
Given by Judy Moxon
Object history
Poster used by the acrobat Edwin Moxon (1857-1947) to advertise his act and kept in the family until it was given to the museum by his grand-daughter Judy Moxon in 2005.
Association
Summary
This poster was used by Edwin Moxon (1857-1845) who was born in Reading and ran away to join the circus, aged 17. In the 19th century variety and circus performers needed to have their own posters which could be sent to prospective managers when applying for work and could be overposted with the name of venues and appearance dates.

Edwin Moxon travelled all over the world performing a balancing and foot-juggling act in circuses and variety theatres. He performed in Russia for seven years, spoke several languages fluently and had thirteen children. When they were old enough, the two eldest children were trained to join him in the family act, the Moxon Trio. His thirteenth child Eileen, who used the stage name Levanda, performed the act in circus and cabaret in the 1940s with her daughter Judy, appearing as Levanda and Van. Judy went on to travel the world with the act independently in the 1960s, performing tricks that feature on this poster, passed down from her grandfather via her mother.


Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
S.542-2014

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Record createdFebruary 21, 2014
Record URL
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