{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1512940"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1512940/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MF9289/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MF9289/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2019MF9289","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1512940/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1512940","accessionNumber":"S.616-2019","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"Figure of Dan Leno","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This figure made by the property maker Martin Adams represents the popular music hall and pantomime performer Dan Leno (1860-1904).  Born George Galvin, Leno performed on the music hall stage as a child and went on to become one of the highest-paid stage performers of his day. He became so popuar and well-respected that he was invited to perform his sketch <i>The Hunstsman</i> for King Edward VII at Sandringham, earning him the soubriquet 'the King's Jester'. It is in this connection that this figure was made to be part of <i>Royal Box</i>, the V&amp;A exhibition about royalty and the theatre in 1977, the Silver Jubilee of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the throne.\n\nSince making this figures, one of ten he made for the exhibition, Martin Adams went on to specialise in jewellery and jewellery-related props, making items including crowns, jewellery and sceptres for hundreds of films, television shows and theatrical productions.\n\n\n","physicalDescription":"Figure of Dan Leno on a metal rod wearing  a blue coat with a sunflower on its left  lapel, a diamond-patterned black and red  waistcoat, black trousers and a black  stovepipe hat. He carries a red umbrella in  his right hand","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Martin Adams","id":"A23110"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Galvanised wire armature on metal rod, modelled with DAX self-hardening modelling clay painted in acrylic paint base with gouache details. Yak and synthetic hair, mixed fabrics, beads, buttons and sequins, ribbon, lace and Copydex adhesive. Varnished red and black ribbon for waistcoat.","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Figures","id":"THES274372"},{"text":"Music Hall","id":"THES267742"},{"text":"Variety","id":"THES269955"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2019MF9289"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES355417"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"figures","id":"AAT189808"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1977","earliest":"1977-01-01","latest":"1977-12-31"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This figure is one of ten Victorian and Edwardian personalities made by the property maker Martin Adams for the exhibition <i>Royal Box</i>, held at the V&A from 3rd May until 2nd October 1977. They were commissioned by Alexander Schouvaloff, Head of the Theatre Collections at the Victoria & Albert Museum, for the exhibition designed by the set designer Bruno Santini. Each was made on a two inch to one foot scale, and was mouted on a metal rod for display purposes, the rods planted in blocks of polystyrene foam. The set comprised King Edward VII, The Mikado, Marie Taglioni, Giuditta Pasta, Niccoló Paginini, Lily Langtry, Vesta Tilley, Dan Leno, and Henry Irving and Queen Victoria, made to hold hands","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Figure of Dan Leno (1860-1904), made for the exhibition <i>Royal Box</i>, V&A 1977. Mixed media, made by Martin Adams, 1977","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"This object, along with the figure of Vesta Tilley (S.612-2019), was lent to the exhibition <i>Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay: The British Music Hall Song 1850-1920</i> at the Bodleian Library, Oxford, 31 May to 29 October 2005"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.616-2019"],"accessionNumberNum":"616","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2019,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-18","recordCreationDate":"2019-09-30","availableToBook":true}}