Figurine
ca.1850 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Earthenware flatbacks and figurines for mantelpiece decoration were first produced in Staffordshire in the late 1830s. The earliest datable Staffordshire figures appear to be those of Queen Victoria, who was crowned in 1837. Images of royalty proved lucrative and during the 1840s Staffordshire pottery firms issued countless other royal figures. Although some appeared after Victoria's death in 1901, few were made after 1905. During their heyday however they were produced in vast numbers, usually modelled after prints. As well as the royal family they represented a wide variety of subjects, those of actors and actresses being especially popular. This represents the actress Sarah Siddons (1755-1831) as Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare's Macbeth.
Sarah Siddons was born Sarah Kemble, and was a member of the extraordinary Kemble family who dominated the British stage in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. When young she acted with William Siddons whom she married in 1773, against her parents' wishes. She first appeared as Lady Macbeth in London in 1785 and soon became London's leading actress, excelling in tragic and heroic roles. Lady Macbeth was also the part that Mrs Siddons chose for her farewell performance in June 1812.
Sarah Siddons was born Sarah Kemble, and was a member of the extraordinary Kemble family who dominated the British stage in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. When young she acted with William Siddons whom she married in 1773, against her parents' wishes. She first appeared as Lady Macbeth in London in 1785 and soon became London's leading actress, excelling in tragic and heroic roles. Lady Macbeth was also the part that Mrs Siddons chose for her farewell performance in June 1812.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Glazed earthenware |
| Brief description | Sarah Siddons (1755-1831) as Lady Macbeth. Earthenware, Staffordshire, ca.1850 |
| Physical description | Lady Macbeth standing on an oval base with a gilt line around it. She wears a long orange coat with a cream and black dotted trim. She wears a royal blue top with a cream centre section. Her skirt is orange and violet with cream vertical stripes and a pink bottom edge. She has black hair and wears a cream hat with a pink and gilt line around it. Her right arm is bent and her hand rests on her chest. In her left hand she holds a cream coloured cloth. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by John O'Donoghue |
| Subject depicted | |
| Association | |
| Literary reference | <i>Macbeth</i> |
| Summary | Earthenware flatbacks and figurines for mantelpiece decoration were first produced in Staffordshire in the late 1830s. The earliest datable Staffordshire figures appear to be those of Queen Victoria, who was crowned in 1837. Images of royalty proved lucrative and during the 1840s Staffordshire pottery firms issued countless other royal figures. Although some appeared after Victoria's death in 1901, few were made after 1905. During their heyday however they were produced in vast numbers, usually modelled after prints. As well as the royal family they represented a wide variety of subjects, those of actors and actresses being especially popular. This represents the actress Sarah Siddons (1755-1831) as Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare's Macbeth. Sarah Siddons was born Sarah Kemble, and was a member of the extraordinary Kemble family who dominated the British stage in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. When young she acted with William Siddons whom she married in 1773, against her parents' wishes. She first appeared as Lady Macbeth in London in 1785 and soon became London's leading actress, excelling in tragic and heroic roles. Lady Macbeth was also the part that Mrs Siddons chose for her farewell performance in June 1812. |
| Associated object | S.1029-1996 (Object) |
| Bibliographic reference | Portrait Figures of the Victorian Era by P.D. Gordon Pugh |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.40-2007 |
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| Record created | March 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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