{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O118194"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O118194/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AW4449/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AW4449/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AW4449","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O118194/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O118194","accessionNumber":"S.617-1997","objectType":"Tile","titles":[{"title":"Thomas King as Lissardo","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This tile, showing Thomas King (1730-1805) as Lissardo in <i>The Wonder</i>, is one of a series of late 18th-century tiles of actors and actresses produced in Liverpool by John Sadler (1720-1789).  Sadler experimented with transfer-printing on white glazed delftware tiles, transferring images from engraved copper plates to tiles, using enamel colours fixed in low-temperature firing.\r\n\r\nActors and actresses could become big stars in the 18th century, when theatres, concert halls and pleasure gardens were the major forms of public entertainment.  Engravers regularly produced images of paintings of the most popular performers, so the ability to reproduce engravings on ceramics was a lucrative development.  Since the engravings were transfer-printed, the original images appear on the tiles in reverse.\r\n\r\nBorn in London, King made his first stage appearance at Yarmouth.  Garrick engaged him for the Drury Lane season of 1748-1749 after which he spent some time in Dublin and the provinces before returning to London in 1759 and taking comic parts at Drury Lane.  He became well known as a comic actor and played clowns and harlequins at Sadler's Wells Theatre as well as a large repertoire of comic roles at Drury Lane, including Lissardo which he first played in the 1769 season at the Lane.","physicalDescription":"Square glazed cream earthenware tile, transfer-printed with a decorative border of trellis work, and symbolic theatrical objects on the right and left sides including a flaming torch, comedy and tragedy masks, and a lyre.  There is a central image of Thomas King standing, his head turned to the right, bare-headed.  He is wearing a doublet and hose, a short jacket and knee-length boots,  his right arm out to his side, his left hand on his hip.  In a ribbon ground above his head is the name: 'MR KING', and below: 'in the character of LISSARDO'. Decoration in underglaze oxblood colour.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Sadler, John","id":"A3047"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Roberts, James","id":"A16818"},"association":{"text":"engraver","id":"x30813"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"earthenware","id":"x29356"},{"text":"glaze","id":"AAT15091"}],"techniques":[{"text":"transfer printing","id":"AAT53922"},{"text":"firing (heating)","id":"AAT53887"},{"text":"glazing (coating)","id":"AAT53914"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Glazed earthenware","categories":[{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"},{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Tiles","id":"THES48884"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2006AW4449"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES355420"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"tile","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Liverpool","id":"x30239"},"association":{"text":"Made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca.1777","earliest":"1772-01-01","latest":"1781-12-31"},"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":"12.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"12.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"0.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Tile decorated with an image of Thomas King (1730-1805) as Lissardo in <i>The Wonder or, A Woman keeps a Secret</i> by Susannah Centlivre. Taken from the engraving by J. Roberts published as a plate to <i>Bell's British Theatre</i>, 1776. Tin-glazed earthenware Delft tile produced by James Sadler, Liverpool, 1777-1780","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers and other Stage Personnel in London, 1660-1800, vol. 9.  Published by Southern Illinois University Press, 1993."}],"production":"The image is taken from the engraving by James Roberts published as a plate to <i>Bell's British Theatre</i>, 1776.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"King, Thomas","id":"N4745"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.617-1997"],"accessionNumberNum":"617","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1997,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2005-11-07","availableToBook":true}}