{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O112179"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O112179/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MG7639/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MG7639/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2019MG7639","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O112179/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O112179","accessionNumber":"S.943-1996","objectType":"Figurine","titles":[{"title":"John Liston as Paul Pry","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"John Liston (1776-1846) was one of the leading comic actors of his day.  Several different figurines of Liston as Pry were produced, based on contemporary engravings, after his huge success in John Poole's play <i>Paul Pry</i> at London's Haymarket Theatre which opened at London's Haymarket Theatre on 13 September 1825. Some figures were porcelain and others, like this, were the cheaper earthenware. The play was enormously popular throughout the 19th century. Paul Pry's catch-phrases 'I hope I don't intrude', 'Just dropped in' and 'It's nothing to me' were quoted everywhere, and the name Paul Pry became a well-known term for a busybody. The character regularly carried an umbrella, seen here under his left arm.\r\n\r\nListon achieved his greatest successes in farce, particularly as Paul Pry, but was well known for several other roles which were also seen in drawings, painting, engravings and figurines. An expert dancer, he became the highest-paid comedian on the stage, earning between sixty and a hundred pounds a week at the Olympic Theatre, a huge salary for his day. He retired in 1837 after a career that spanned over thirty years.","physicalDescription":"Ceramic figurine of John Liston as Paul Pry carrying an umbrella, standing on a circular base, edged in gold glaze. He is wearing a beige top hat, a white bow tie, a grey jacket, cream breeches with brown stripes, and black boots and gloves.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"makers","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"earthenware","id":"x29356"},{"text":"glaze","id":"AAT15091"}],"techniques":[{"text":"moulding","id":"x46876"},{"text":"firing (heating)","id":"AAT53887"},{"text":"painting","id":"x30598"},{"text":"glazing (coating)","id":"AAT53914"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Glazed earthenware","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Figures & Decorative ceramics","id":"THES48954"},{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"},{"text":"Earthenware","id":"THES48964"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2019MG7639"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES355435"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"figurines","id":"AAT47455"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Staffordshire","id":"x29181"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca.1840","earliest":"1835-01-01","latest":"1844-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"14.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"8.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"front to back at widest point, glove to coat tails","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"6.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"of base","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Paul Pry was one of Liston's most famous stage roles, with his catch-phrase 'I pray I don't intrude'.  Liston was a born comedian, who reputedly made audiences roar with laughter just by appearing on the stage.  Boaden said of him: 'He must be seen to be comprehended.  Other actors labour to be comic, I see nothing like labour in Liston.'","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Figurine of John Liston (ca.1776-1846) earthenware with enm=amel decoration, ca.1840","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Liston, John","id":"N1237"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.943-1996"],"accessionNumberNum":"943","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1996,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-23","recordCreationDate":"2005-05-20","availableToBook":true}}