Figure thumbnail 1
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Figure

ca. 1810-1825 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The design is based on the monument to William Shakespeare in Westminster Abbey, London, designed by William Kent and carved by Peter Scheemakers, 1740. Enoch Wood was originally apprenticed as a modeller, but evidently based this figure on a plaster cast or set of moulds originally made by the London craftsman Peter Vannini or Vaninia (active 1753-70), whose initials can be seen on the reverse of the figure. Such figures would probably have been used as library ornaments. This is an exceptionally large one.

Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Lead-glazed earthenware, painted in enamels
Brief description
Figure of Shakespeare, lead-glazed earthenware, made at the factory of Enoch Wood, Staffordshire, ca. 1810-1825
Marks and inscriptions
'P.V.' (This mark was evidently on the original plaster model from which the moulds for this figure was taken. The initials are those of the London plaster-shop owner Peter Vannini or Vaninia (active 1753-70).)
Gallery label
(23/05/2008)
Figure of Shakespeare
Made at the factory of Enoch Wood, Staffordshire, about 1810-25
Mark: 'P.V.' incised
Lead-glazed earthenware

C.56-1969 Bequeathed by Miss D.A. Dodman
Credit line
Bequeathed by Miss D. A. Dodman
Summary
The design is based on the monument to William Shakespeare in Westminster Abbey, London, designed by William Kent and carved by Peter Scheemakers, 1740. Enoch Wood was originally apprenticed as a modeller, but evidently based this figure on a plaster cast or set of moulds originally made by the London craftsman Peter Vannini or Vaninia (active 1753-70), whose initials can be seen on the reverse of the figure. Such figures would probably have been used as library ornaments. This is an exceptionally large one.
Collection
Accession number
C.56-1969

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Record createdMarch 31, 2008
Record URL
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