A rare and very desirable figure depicting the popular actress Madame Vestris in the role of Paul in the romance Paul and Virginia based on a 1787 work by Bernardin de St Pierre and adapted for the musical stage by James Cobb in 1800. Cobb changed the story’s ending, finishing with Paul on his knees giving thanks for Virginia’s deliverance from the shipwreck.
It was revived several times. The only actress to play Paul was Vestris and she played Paul only in 1822. Pugh speculates that this figure - despite featuring many hallmarks of figures made around 1840 - was probably made around 1822. I have chosen to hedge my bets and set a broad estimate of ‘around 1830’ with a large degree of latitude on either side.
The figure is in very good condition with a small, very old hairline crack emanating from the right foot and continuing under the base. I cannot detect any signs of restoration but the possibility of professional restoration is not entirely ruled out.
This figure is beautifully decorated and an important and rare example of a theatrical portrait figure of this period.
Reference: P. D. Gordon Pugh, Staffordshire Portrait Figures, p. E467, pl. 114, fig. 226
Height: 6.5”
Date: c. 1830
A rare and very desirable figure depicting the popular actress Madame Vestris in the role of Paul in the romance Paul and Virginia based on a 1787 work by Bernardin de St Pierre and adapted for the musical stage by James Cobb in 1800. Cobb changed the story’s ending, finishing with Paul on his knees giving thanks for Virginia’s deliverance from the shipwreck.
It was revived several times. The only actress to play Paul was Vestris and she played Paul only in 1822. Pugh speculates that this figure - despite featuring many hallmarks of figures made around 1840 - was probably made around 1822. I have chosen to hedge my bets and set a broad estimate of ‘around 1830’ with a large degree of latitude on either side.
The figure is in very good condition with a small, very old hairline crack emanating from the right foot and continuing under the base. I cannot detect any signs of restoration but the possibility of professional restoration is not entirely ruled out.
This figure is beautifully decorated and an important and rare example of a theatrical portrait figure of this period.
Reference: P. D. Gordon Pugh, Staffordshire Portrait Figures, p. E467, pl. 114, fig. 226
Height: 6.5”
Date: c. 1830
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