{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O118257"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O118257/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AB9077/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AB9077/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AB9077","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O118257/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O118257","accessionNumber":"S.891-1981","objectType":"Figurine","titles":[{"title":"Commedia dell'Arte figurine","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This figurine was produced by the Samson factory in Paris which was established in 1845 by Edmé Samson, a famous copyist of pottery and porcelain. He produced pieces inspired by and copied from the work of famous factories including Chinese export porcelain, Meissen, Sèvres, Chelsea, Derby, and all the major factories of England, France and Germany, as well as tin-glazed earthenware or faience. \r\n\r\nThis figurine represents a character from the Commedia dell'Arte, or 'artistic comedy', the popular improvised knockabout comedy which flourished in Italy from the 16th to the 18th centuries and influenced theatre throughout Europe, especially France. Commedia plays were acted along pre-arranged scenarios but relied on the performers' ability for improvisation and ensured their popularity with a mixture of slapstick comedy, acrobatic leaping and romantic interest. Various visiting Italian troupes performed in France in the 16th century where their type of theatre was called the Comédie-Italienne. By the 17th century, however, their plays were being performed largely in French, and by the 18th century Commedia dell'Arte was a recognised part of the French theatre.\n\nThe same character is represented in a print in the V&A Theatre and Performance collections (S.3783-2009).","physicalDescription":"Ceramic figurine of a bearded Commedia dell'Arte character, standing with both arms down by his sides and carrying a grey cap in his left hand. He wears a close- fitting black cap, a long-sleeved white flowering tunic belted at the waist and hips, yellow striped trousers and beige shoes with blue rosettes. He stands in front of a 'tree stump' on a roughly circular rococo-style cream base with gilt decoration.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Samson & Cie","id":"A9027"},"association":{"text":"makers","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"hard paste porcelain","id":"AAT10663"},{"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 porcelain","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Figures & Decorative ceramics","id":"THES48954"},{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2006AB9077"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES355419"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"figurines","id":"AAT47455"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Paris","id":"x29068"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"late 19th century","earliest":"1850-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Harry R. Beard Collection, given by Isobel Beard","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"16.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"6.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"5.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"5.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"of base","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"A blue star with an 'S' above it","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"On base - very faded - indicating 'Samson of Paris'"},{"content":"'8'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Incised on base, along with linear marks"}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Figurine of a character from the Commedia dell'Arte, hard-paste porcelain, by Samson of Paris, late 19th century","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":["Commedia dell'Arte"],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.891-1981"],"accessionNumberNum":"891","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1981,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-09","recordCreationDate":"2005-11-07","availableToBook":true}}