Not currently on display at the V&A

Juggling baton

Juggling Baton
ca.1960 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is one of a set of juggling batons used by Judy Moxon (b.1932) who performed in cabaret and variety all over the world. Her act included juggling with a tennis racquet and foot juggling. Judy learned her skills from her mother Eileen who performed with her from the time she was 15 in the late 1940s in an act called Levanda and Van. Eileen hs been taught by herfather Edwin, or Ted, Moxon who ran away from home to join the circus when he was 17, and travelled the world performing a 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 mature enough, the two eldest children were trained in foot juggling to become part of the family act, the Moxon Trio.

This baton was given by Judy Moxon, along with juggling clubs, photographs, posters showing her grandfather's act, a pair of his stage costume trunks, and a programme for London Rhapsody at the Palladium Theatre, September 1937, illustrated with an image of her mother performing the act.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleJuggling baton (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Wood
Brief description
Juggling baton used in her cabaret and variety juggling act by Judy Moxon (b.1932), one of a set of two
Physical description
Wooden baton with carved round finial and handle.
Dimensions
  • Height: 50.5cm (maximum height)
  • Width: 3.5cm (maximum width)
  • Depth: 3.5cm (maximum depth)
Credit line
Given by Judy Moxon
Object history
Part of a small collection given to the museum by Judy Moxon relating to foot- juggling and the act the Moxon Trio performed by her grandfather Edwin Moxon (1857-1947) and his children, one of whom was Judy's mother Eileen. Eileen (1910-1990) later formed her own foot-juggling act, first with her brother, and in the late 1940s as Levanda and Van with her daughter Judy, who went on to perform the act independently in the 1960s.
Summary
This is one of a set of juggling batons used by Judy Moxon (b.1932) who performed in cabaret and variety all over the world. Her act included juggling with a tennis racquet and foot juggling. Judy learned her skills from her mother Eileen who performed with her from the time she was 15 in the late 1940s in an act called Levanda and Van. Eileen hs been taught by herfather Edwin, or Ted, Moxon who ran away from home to join the circus when he was 17, and travelled the world performing a 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 mature enough, the two eldest children were trained in foot juggling to become part of the family act, the Moxon Trio.

This baton was given by Judy Moxon, along with juggling clubs, photographs, posters showing her grandfather's act, a pair of his stage costume trunks, and a programme for London Rhapsody at the Palladium Theatre, September 1937, illustrated with an image of her mother performing the act.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
S.550:1-2014

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Record createdFebruary 24, 2014
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