Dr Syntax Sketching: C.3066-1928

Titles

Dr Syntax Sketching

Maker(s)

Factory: Derby Porcelain Factory, King Street
Factory: Stevenson and Hancock
Modeller: Keys, Edward

Entities

• Figure

Categories

• Bone china

Description

Bone china, slip-cast, and glazed.

Bone china, slip-cast, and clear-glazed. The underside is unglazed and has a large oval ventilation hole in the centre. The oval low mound base has a barrel at the back with applied flowers and leaves on the ground on either side of it, and further forward, three clumps of ‘moss’. Dr Syntax sits on the barrel sketching in a book which rests on his knees. He wears a tricorn hat, a bow round his neck, a buttoned up jacket, breeches and shoes. In front of him, facting towards the viewer are two seated ducks or geese.

Notes

History note: Purchased from Mrs E. Spencer, 'Old Village Museum', Shanklin, Isle of Wight, on 21 September 1922 for 10s.

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Place(s) associated

• Derby ⪼ Derbyshire ⪼ England

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1928) by Glaisher, J. W. L., Dr

Dating

19th Century, third quarter#
Circa 1865 CE - 1870 CE

Note

Haslem (1876) attributed the modelling of this figure to Edward Keys, describing it as 'Dr Syntax Drawing' in his Price List of Groups and Single Figures made at the old Derby factory.

This model was derived from an illustration by Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827) in 'The Tour of Dr Syntax in Search of the Picturesque' (1812), the first of a trilogy about the exploits of Syntax, a schoolmaster and curate. The other volumes were 'The Tour of Dr Syntax in Search of Consolation' (1820), and 'The Tour of Dr Syntax in search of a Wife' (1821). The character, Dr Syntax, had been created by William Gilpin (1724-1804) but did not become well-known until the publication of a narrative poem by William Combe (1741-1823) which appeared in Ackerman's 'Poetical Magazine' during 1809. The series of Derby figures appeared before 1830, and were re-issued by Stevenson and Hancock after 1848. Dr Syntax Sketching was changed to include the two ducks or geese.