Oleg Popov
Figurine
ca.1960 (made)
ca.1960 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The Russian clown and circus artist Oleg Konstantinovich Popov, was born in Moscow in 1930 and became one of the most popular clowns in the Soviet Union during the second half of the 20th century. The son of a clock-maker, he finished Russian circus school in Moscow in 1949 and started his career on the Moscow Circus of Tsvetno Boulevard. Six years later, he became the first clown from the USSR to perform in the Western world.
In 1969 Popov was honoured with the title of the 'People's Artist of the USSR'. A star performer with the Moscow State Circus, he performed as clown, a mime, a tightrope walker, and a juggler. In 1981 he won the Oscar of the clown world: The Golden Clown of Monte Carlo. His role as a clown follows the tradition of the Russian 'Ivanushka', who fools other people and who is teased himself. Later he toured worldwide as The Sunny Clown and in 2006, when performing at the 30th anniversary of the International Festival of the Circus of Monte-Carlo, he received a royal standing ovation.
In 1969 Popov was honoured with the title of the 'People's Artist of the USSR'. A star performer with the Moscow State Circus, he performed as clown, a mime, a tightrope walker, and a juggler. In 1981 he won the Oscar of the clown world: The Golden Clown of Monte Carlo. His role as a clown follows the tradition of the Russian 'Ivanushka', who fools other people and who is teased himself. Later he toured worldwide as The Sunny Clown and in 2006, when performing at the 30th anniversary of the International Festival of the Circus of Monte-Carlo, he received a royal standing ovation.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Oleg Popov (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Glazed earthenware |
| Brief description | Miniature figurine of the clown Oleg Popov (b.1930). Glazed earthenware. Antony Hippisley Coxe Collection |
| Physical description | Polychrome glazed earthenware figurine of the clown Oleg Popov standing on a roughly circular cream base, wearing a conical black hat, a white jacket, a cream waistcoat striped in red, black trousers and beige boots. He has a black tie and holds a small white dog under his right arm, and a stick behind his back in his left hand. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Antony Hippisley Coxe Collection |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The Russian clown and circus artist Oleg Konstantinovich Popov, was born in Moscow in 1930 and became one of the most popular clowns in the Soviet Union during the second half of the 20th century. The son of a clock-maker, he finished Russian circus school in Moscow in 1949 and started his career on the Moscow Circus of Tsvetno Boulevard. Six years later, he became the first clown from the USSR to perform in the Western world. In 1969 Popov was honoured with the title of the 'People's Artist of the USSR'. A star performer with the Moscow State Circus, he performed as clown, a mime, a tightrope walker, and a juggler. In 1981 he won the Oscar of the clown world: The Golden Clown of Monte Carlo. His role as a clown follows the tradition of the Russian 'Ivanushka', who fools other people and who is teased himself. Later he toured worldwide as The Sunny Clown and in 2006, when performing at the 30th anniversary of the International Festival of the Circus of Monte-Carlo, he received a royal standing ovation. |
| Other number | AHC 6.17 - Hippisley Coxe Collection number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.24-2007 |
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| Record created | March 15, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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