Sculpture
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 appear to have been of Queen Victoria who was crowned in 1837, and during the 1840s countless other royal figures were issued by Staffordshire pottery firms, celebrating for example Victoria's marriage to Prince Albert in 1840, and the birth of the royal children.
Although a few Staffordshire portrait figures were made after Victoria's death in 1901, few appear to have been produced after 1905. During their heyday however they were issued in vast numbers, usually modelled after prints. As well as the royal family they represented a wide variety of subjects, including military heroes, political figures, actors and actresses and famous poets and playwrights. This figurine of William Shakespeare (1564-161) is one of several versions of him produced by various Staffordshire firms. Moulded figurines like this were relatively cheap and extremely popular; the possession of a figurine of Shakespeare would have been considered a mark of taste in many a Victorian household.
Although a few Staffordshire portrait figures were made after Victoria's death in 1901, few appear to have been produced after 1905. During their heyday however they were issued in vast numbers, usually modelled after prints. As well as the royal family they represented a wide variety of subjects, including military heroes, political figures, actors and actresses and famous poets and playwrights. This figurine of William Shakespeare (1564-161) is one of several versions of him produced by various Staffordshire firms. Moulded figurines like this were relatively cheap and extremely popular; the possession of a figurine of Shakespeare would have been considered a mark of taste in many a Victorian household.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Glazed earthenware |
| Brief description | Figurine of William Shakespeare (1564-1616). Earthenware, Staffordshire, ca.1850 |
| Physical description | Glazed earthenware figurine of William Shakespeare on a white base decorated with a gold line and gold patterning at the front. He wears a royal blue jacket, dark yellow breeches with gilt edging and an orange coat. He is leaning on a column, holding a scroll with gilt lines in his left hand. The column is dark brown with some light pink colouring. The figure has black hair and eyes. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by John O'Donoghue |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Earthenware flatbacks and figurines for mantelpiece decoration were first produced in Staffordshire in the late 1830s. The earliest appear to have been of Queen Victoria who was crowned in 1837, and during the 1840s countless other royal figures were issued by Staffordshire pottery firms, celebrating for example Victoria's marriage to Prince Albert in 1840, and the birth of the royal children. Although a few Staffordshire portrait figures were made after Victoria's death in 1901, few appear to have been produced after 1905. During their heyday however they were issued in vast numbers, usually modelled after prints. As well as the royal family they represented a wide variety of subjects, including military heroes, political figures, actors and actresses and famous poets and playwrights. This figurine of William Shakespeare (1564-161) is one of several versions of him produced by various Staffordshire firms. Moulded figurines like this were relatively cheap and extremely popular; the possession of a figurine of Shakespeare would have been considered a mark of taste in many a Victorian household. |
| Associated object | S.331-1981 (Object) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.50-2007 |
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| Record created | March 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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