This is one of several wax figurines executed by Agatha Walker in the 1920s, mostly of actors and actresses in costume for roles in successful productions on the London stage. The 19th century saw a craze for ceramic figurines of performers and Agatha Walker attempted to revive this tradition with her limited edition sculptures. They were modelled from life in plaster and coated with a fine wax layer which was then coloured. In 1931 Agatha Walker's wax figures were exhibited at the Fine Art Society.

This figurine represents the actress Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies (1891-1992) as Mrs Sidney Herbert, or Lady Herbert of Lea, in The Lady With a Lamp, a play about the life of Florence Nightingale by Ronald Berkeley. Elizabeth Herbert became an ally of Florence Nightingale when her husband Baron Sidney Herbert was made Secretary of State during the Crimean War. The play opened at London's Arts Theatre on 5 January 1929 and after ten performances transferred to the Garrick Theatre where it stayed until the middle of June, achieving a run of 164 performances. Edith Evans played Florence Nightingale, and critics noted that the two star actresses were perfect foils to each other.