Souvenir cutout of Winifred Lawson in the title role of Princess Ida
Souvenir
1922 (manufactured), 1922 (sold)
1922 (manufactured), 1922 (sold)
| Artist/Maker |
Souvenir figures such as this became popular in the 1920s, apparently after a set representing dancers with Diaghilev's Ballets Russes Company were issued by Cyril Beaumont. He had the idea in about 1914 to produce them from artwork representing the dancers in costume, hoping they would: 'supply the demand for something between a photograph and a statuette'. A 1928 catalogue of Beaumont's publications notes: 'The figures, which are of wood, average 8¾ inches high, and are hand-coloured with special care to ensure accuracy of costume. The black stands on which the figures are mounted are easily removable to afford facility in packing. The figures are priced at 7s.6d. net.'
This figure of Winifred Lawson is one of several representing singers in roles they played with D'Oyly Carte Opera Company productions in its 1921 to 1922 season at London's Princes Theatre. They were reproduced from photographs and would have been issued in 1922 by the Artograph Technical and Photographic Company, located at 16, Grape Street, New Oxford Street, behind the Princes Theatre.
Winifred Lawson made her debut with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in the title role of the first revival of Princess Ida that opened at the Princes on 23rd January 1922. She replaced Helen Gilliland as principal soprano when Gilliland left the company in April that year. Lawson went on to perform with the company for several seasons, leaving the company for the last time in June 1932.
This figure of Winifred Lawson is one of several representing singers in roles they played with D'Oyly Carte Opera Company productions in its 1921 to 1922 season at London's Princes Theatre. They were reproduced from photographs and would have been issued in 1922 by the Artograph Technical and Photographic Company, located at 16, Grape Street, New Oxford Street, behind the Princes Theatre.
Winifred Lawson made her debut with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in the title role of the first revival of Princess Ida that opened at the Princes on 23rd January 1922. She replaced Helen Gilliland as principal soprano when Gilliland left the company in April that year. Lawson went on to perform with the company for several seasons, leaving the company for the last time in June 1932.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
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| Title | Souvenir cutout of Winifred Lawson in the title role of Princess Ida (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Photographic paper on plywood |
| Brief description | Souvenir plywood cutout figure with wooden stand of Winifred Lawson (1892-1961) in the title role of Princess Ida by Gilbert and Sullivan with the D'Oyly Carte Company during their season at the Princes Theatre London, 3rd October 1921 to 8th April 1922. Produced by the Artograph Company, 1922. |
| Physical description | S.1062:1-2021 Plywood cutout figure of Winifred Lawson in the title role of Princess Ida S.1062:2-2021 Wooden base for the figure |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | THE ARTOGRAPH CO/Technical and commercial photographers/16, Grape Street/New Oxford St.,WC1 (Stamped verso in black ink) |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by Peter Parker |
| Object history | This cutout figure, one of thirteen similar items in this bequest, was inherited by Peter Parker, along with a quantity of other objects related to the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, from his father Stanley H. Parker (d.1960). Stanley Parker was employed by the Savoy Hotel as a junior clerk in May 1909, straight from school. From that job, on the death of Helen D'Oyly Carte in 1913, he was appointed by Rupert D'Oyly Carte to understudy George A. Richardson who managed the theatre from November 1911 to February 1915. In 1913 Stanley H. Parker became Rupert and (later) Bridget D'Oyly Carte's private secretary, also secretary of both the Savoy Theatre Ltd., and the Opera Company. He worked for the company for 51 years, until his death in 1960. This was subsequently part of Peter Parker's bequest to the V&A. |
| Summary | Souvenir figures such as this became popular in the 1920s, apparently after a set representing dancers with Diaghilev's Ballets Russes Company were issued by Cyril Beaumont. He had the idea in about 1914 to produce them from artwork representing the dancers in costume, hoping they would: 'supply the demand for something between a photograph and a statuette'. A 1928 catalogue of Beaumont's publications notes: 'The figures, which are of wood, average 8¾ inches high, and are hand-coloured with special care to ensure accuracy of costume. The black stands on which the figures are mounted are easily removable to afford facility in packing. The figures are priced at 7s.6d. net.' This figure of Winifred Lawson is one of several representing singers in roles they played with D'Oyly Carte Opera Company productions in its 1921 to 1922 season at London's Princes Theatre. They were reproduced from photographs and would have been issued in 1922 by the Artograph Technical and Photographic Company, located at 16, Grape Street, New Oxford Street, behind the Princes Theatre. Winifred Lawson made her debut with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in the title role of the first revival of Princess Ida that opened at the Princes on 23rd January 1922. She replaced Helen Gilliland as principal soprano when Gilliland left the company in April that year. Lawson went on to perform with the company for several seasons, leaving the company for the last time in June 1932. |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.1062:1 to 2-2021 |
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| Record created | September 6, 2021 |
| Record URL |
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