John Liston
This is an early Staffordshire figure of the actor John Liston, portraying the role of Van Dunder in the play ‘Twould Puzzle a Conjurer’ or ‘The Two Peters’, by John Poole. The play debuted at the Haymarket Theatre in London in 1824. This figure stands about 6 3/4” tall and dates to approximately 1825. It may be found in Myrna Schkolne’s Staffordshire Figures, Volume 2, page 72.
John Poole (1786–1872), an English playwright, was one of the earliest and best known 19th century playwrights of the comic drama, the farce. The 1824 playbill of ‘Twould puzzle a conjurer’ says:
‘This drama is founded upon the well-known historical fact of Peter the Great, (the Czar of Russia,) having been a workman in the Dockyards of Saardam, where he learnt thoroughly the art and mystery of a ship builder, with the view of founding thereafter a Russian Navy worthy of the greatness of his vast Empire – at his command Petersburg rose, as it were, from the marshes of the Neva, into a capital to vie with Moscow, and finally to overshadow its greatness. Poole has scarcely done justice to the Czar, who although the hero of his Drama, is a very second-rate consideration. The plot is simple and the story well told, and when acted with care never fails to ensure the approbation of the audience.’
Two images from the time inspired by John Poole’s play:
More Figures of the month
Rare pair of camel figures
This is a rare, mirror image pair of Staffordshire camel figures. They are generally believed to represent Lady Hester Stanhope and her personal physician and companion Dr. Charles Lewis Meryon, though this attribution is not certain.
Pair of standing lions
This is a fine pair of Staffordshire lions standing on coloured bases. Each lion is approximately 10” tall and dates to about 1860. These figures may be found in Harding’s Book Two, page 259.
Rare figure of Victorian card playing
At first glance, this may appear to be an ordinary arbour figure. But upon closer inspection, one can see these three people are engaged in a game of cards.
George Washington and Zachary Taylor
This is a very rare pair of figures portraying George Washington and Zachary Taylor. They stand approximately 9” and 9.1″ tall, and date to approximately 1850.
Tam O’Shanter and John Gilpin
This is a very rare pair of figures portraying Tam O’Shanter and John Gilpin. They stand approximately 8.6″ and 9.0″ tall, and date to approximately 1845.
Edward Morgan and Jenny Jones
This is a rare pair of figures portraying Edward Morgan and Jenny Jones, titled with gilt script. The romantic tale of Morgan and Jones was set to music in 1825 by Charles James Mathews.
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