{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O118996"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O118996/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AB9182/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AB9182/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AB9182","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O118996","accessionNumber":"S.1069-1983","objectType":"Figurine","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This is one of several wax figurines executed by Agatha Walker in the 1920s, mostly of actors and actresses in character in successful London stage productions. The 19th century saw a craze for ceramic figurines of performers and Agatha Walker attempted to revive this tradition with her limited edition sculptures, modelled from life in plaster and coated with a fine layer of wax which was then coloured.  In 1931 Agatha Walker's wax figures were exhibited at the Fine Art Society.\r\n\r\nThis represents the actress and singer Sylvia Nelis as Polly Peachum in John Gay's <i>The Beggar's Opera</i> which opened at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith on 5 June 1920. It was one of a set of characters from the opera produced by Agatha Walker in 1921. This revival of the 18th century operetta ran for 1463 performances and was a great success for the theatre's owner Sir Nigel Playfair who had purchased the lease of the derelict theatre building in 1918 in a syndicate.  He transformed it into a highly successful venue, putting Hammersmith firmly on the theatrical map.","physicalDescription":"Wax figurine of Sylvia Nelis as Polly Peachum stadning on a light tan coloured base incised with details. She wears a white mob-cap with turquoise-blue ribbon, turquoise-blue bow at the neckline, turquoise-blue mittens and shoes, a pink dress with square-cut neckline edged in white, a white apron and white undersleeves, just visible at the elbows. Her arms are clasped in front of her and her head down and inclined to her right.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Walker, Agatha","id":"A14175"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"plaster","id":"AAT14922"},{"text":"wax","id":"AAT14585"},{"text":"pigment","id":"AAT13109"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Moulded plaster, covered in wax and coloured","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2006AB9182"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES355426"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"figurines","id":"AAT47455"}],[{"text":"wax sculpture","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1921","earliest":"1921-01-01","latest":"1921-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Elizabeth Aitken","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"27.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"approx","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"20.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"approx, at widest point, across skirt","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Polly Peachum'","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 front of base"},{"content":"AW\r\n1922","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Agatha Walker's monogram nad date incised on back of base"},{"content":"'Nelis'","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 right of base"},{"content":"'Sylvia'","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 left of base"},{"content":"'416'","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"}],"objectHistory":"The revival of <i>The Beggar's Opera</i> by John Gay in which Sylvia Nelis played Polly Peachum opened at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, 5 June 1920.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Figurine of Sylvia Nelis as Polly Peachum in <i>The Beggar's Opera</i>, Lyric Hammersmith, 1920. Moulded plaster coated in wax and coloured, by Agatha Walker, 1921.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<i>Stage Personalities.  The Portrait Statuettes of Agatha Walker</i>   The Studio, vol. 101 (1931)"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.1069-1983"],"accessionNumberNum":"1069","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1983,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-09","recordCreationDate":"2005-11-24","availableToBook":true}}