- Object name(s):
- Bust
- Brief description:
- Terracotta coloured bust of Shakespeare on integral circular plinth.
- Collection:
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Associated concept:
- Entertainment & Leisure
- Associated concept:
- Figures & Decorative ceramics
- Content - person:
- Shakespeare, William
- Credit line:
- Richard Vincent Hughes Bequest
- Current reproduction location:
- https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AB9088/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg
- Location type:
- Thumbnail
- Dimension:
- Height
- Dimension measurement unit:
- cm
- Dimension value:
- 17.0
- Dimension:
- Width
- Dimension measured part:
- across shoulders
- Dimension measurement unit:
- cm
- Dimension value:
- 10.0
- Dimension:
- Diameter
- Dimension measured part:
- of base
- Dimension measurement unit:
- cm
- Dimension value:
- 6.5
- Dimension:
- Height
- Dimension measured part:
- of base
- Dimension measurement unit:
- cm
- Dimension value:
- 6.5
- Inscription content:
- WATCOMBE, TORQUAY
- Inscription interpretation:
- Around a circular mark stamped on the back of the bust.
- Inscription content:
- '11'
- Inscription interpretation:
- Marked inside base
- Material:
- terracotta
- Object name:
- Bust
- Object number:
- S.327-1981
- Object production date:
- ca.1880
- Date - association:
- made
- Date - earliest / single:
- 1875-01-01
- Date - latest:
- 1884-12-31
- Object production organisation:
- Watcombe Pottery Co.
- Organisation's association:
- maker
- Object production place:
- Watcombe
- Place association:
- made
- Physical description:
- Terracotta coloured bust of Shakespeare on integral circular plinth.
- Reproduction number:
- 2006AB9088
- Responsible department/section:
- T&P
- Technique:
- Terracotta
- Text reason:
- Collections online record
- Text:
- This bust of William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is a copy of an 18th century sculpture by Louis-François Roubiliac (1702-1762). This small bust was produced in the late 19th century by the Watcombe Terracotta Clay Company Ltd., founded in 1869 by George Allen at Watcombe, near Torquay, after fine terracotta clay was discovered there. Since there was little local experience of pottery, Allen appointed a manager and a turner from Staffordshire where it was a well-established industry. Other workers were apprenticed locally and learned their art at the local Cottage Art Schools. Following the establishment of Allen's firm the Devon pottery industry grew rapidly and other firms were established in the late 19th century including the Torquay Terra Cotta Company which also employed ceramic artists and pottery turners from Staffordshire, and exhibited items at the 1878 Paris Exhibition. Devon potteries produced a wide range of wares as well as busts like this for the household market.
- Text reason:
- Summary description
Persistent shareable link for this record: https://museumdata.uk/objects/f71801c2-5e4a-3a05-81e0-8b0ea3bb6d12
Use licence for this record: CC BY-NC
Attribution for this record: https://museumdata.uk/objects/f71801c2-5e4a-3a05-81e0-8b0ea3bb6d12, Victoria and Albert Museum, CC BY-NC
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