John Liston as Van Dunder: C.991-1928

Titles

John Liston as Van Dunder

Maker(s)

Production: Enoch Wood (Probably)

Entities

• Figure
• Staffordshire figure (early)

Categories

• Earthenware
• Lead-glazed earthenware

Description

Earthenware figure, moulded and modelled, lead glazed and painted with polychrome enamels.

Earthenware figure of the actor John Liston in character, He wears a black conical hat with a red band over a lawyer’s wig; his clothes are black, with a white bow at the neck, a red belt and black shoes with red rosettes. He holds a scroll in both hands (broken off) and his head is turned to the left, as if in proclamation. He stands against a short, square marbled post, on a square white base which carried the transferred inscription: ‘Read it indeed : that’s very easily said, read it! The back is fully modeled and painted. The underside of the base is recessed and glazed.

Notes

History note: From the collection of Percy Fitzgerald Esq., FSA (1834-1925) of 37 St George’s Road, S.W.. Bought at Christie’s on 24 January 1908, lot 14, by Mr Thomas Sutton of Eastbourne for Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, Trinity College, Cambridge. This and a similar but differently-coloured figure were bought for £6.6s (six pound six shillings).

Legal notes

Dr J. W. L. Glaisher Bequest

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1928-12-07) by Glaisher, J. W. L., Dr

Dating

19th Century, second quarter
Circa 1830 - Circa 1840

Note

John Liston (1776-1846) was a well known comic actor, who performed in London theatres from c.1805-1837. He appeared as van Dunder in John Poole’s comedy ‘ ‘Twould Puzzle a Conjurer’, which opened at the Haymarket Theatre, London, on 11 September 1824. The source for this figure was a coloured lithograph of Liston in nine of his best known roles, originally published in 1826. Six of the other roles are also found in pottery figures.

Pearlware figures decorated with enamels were in production by 1780. They were generally made at smaller potteries and are rarely marked. A cheaper alternative to porcelain figures, they drew on a variety of 3-D sources, including sculpture and porcelain figures. Classical, biblical, mythological and literary subjects were popular, as were animals and representations of rural life, seasons and trades. From the early 19th Century, scenes from everyday life and topical events were also common. These early figures are moulded, perhaps with moulded or modelled parts added, the bases often formed separately. After around 1810-1820, figures are often more vibrantly coloured. But by c.1835, these early methods had largely given way to three-part press-moulding, enabling cheaper production of figures for a growing market.

Very similar figures with this colouring and base include examples marked by Enoch Wood (1759-1840) of Burslem. Others, with similar modelling but different colours and base (including Fitzwilliam, C.990-1928) are probably by another maker. It was not uncommon for the Staffordshire potters to borrow designs from each other and c.1830 a similar 14cm figurine was also made by Robert Bloor & Co of Derby.