{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O233629"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O233629/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CB4134/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CB4134/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009CB4134","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O233629/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O233629","accessionNumber":"S.146:318-2007","objectType":"Photograph","titles":[{"title":"Guy Little Theatrical Photograph","type":"named collection"}],"summaryDescription":"This photograph of Willie Edouin (1846-1908) was probably taken at the photographers' Fradelle & Marshall's studio in Regent Street in 1875 when Edouin was starring in the production of <i>Blue Beard</i> at the Globe Theatre that transferred from the Charing Cross Theatre where it opened on 19 September 1874.  The English comedian, actor, dancer, singer, writer, director and theatre manager Edouin made a name for himself performing in burlesque with Lydia Thompson's company in American and Britain. He ran his own company in America in the early 1880s and from 1884 for over a decade managed theatres in London including the Strand Theatre. From the 1890s he appeared as the comic lead in several hit Edwardian musical comedies, including Florodora.  He had two daughters by his wife, the actress Alice Atherton - May, born 18 February 1875, and Daisy, born 30 September 1876. Since May was born in February, and <i>Blue Beard</i> ran at the Globe until July before going on tour in the UK, the baby Edouin is holding here is most probably May, Edouin wanting to make the most of his sitting by including his first-born.\r\n\r\nPhotography was a novel and exciting development in Victorian days. Most actors and actresses had studio photographs taken, in everyday dress or theatrical costume, for ‘cartes de visite’, and later ‘cabinet cards’.  Both were albumen prints made from glass negatives, attached to stiff card backing printed with the photographer’s name. \r\n\r\n‘Cartes de visite’, the size of  formal visiting cards, were patented in 1854 and produced in their millions during the 1860s when it became fashionable to collect them. Their subjects included scenic views, tourist attractions and works of art, as well as portraits. They were superseded in the late 1870s by the larger and sturdier ‘cabinet cards’ whose popularity waned in turn during the 1890s in favour of postcards and studio portraits.\r\n \r\nThis photograph comes from a large collection of ‘cartes de visite’ and ‘cabinet cards’ removed from their backings and mounted in albums by Guy Tristram Little (d.1953) who bequeathed them to the V&A.  A collector of greetings cards, games and photographs, Guy Little was a partner in the legal firm Messrs Milles Jennings White & Foster, and the solicitor and executor of Mrs. Gabrielle Enthoven, whose theatrical collection formed the basis of the Theatre Collections at the V&A.","physicalDescription":"Sepia photograph taken in a studio setting of Willie Edouin as The Heathen Chinee holding probably his first daughter May when he was appearing in <i>Blue Beard</i> at the Globe Theatre.\nFacsimile","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Fradelle & Marshall","id":"A20377"},"association":{"text":"photographers","id":"AAT25687"},"note":"Information about the identity of the original photographer from John Culme, a collector who has an identical image to S.146:322-2007 in a mounted carte de visite credited to Fradelle & Marshall, 230 & 246 Regent Street."}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"photographic paper","id":"AAT14190"}],"techniques":[{"text":"photography","id":"AAT54225"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Sepia photograph on paper","categories":[{"text":"Photographs","id":"THES48910"},{"text":"Portraits","id":"THES48906"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2009CB4134"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES353248"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"cartes-de-visite","id":"AAT127141"}],[{"text":"photographs","id":"AAT46300"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1875","earliest":"1875-01-01","latest":"1875-12-31"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""},{"date":{"text":"ca. 2000s","earliest":"1995-01-01","latest":"2013-12-31"},"association":{"text":"copied","id":"x46488"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"S.146:314-2007","id":"O233618"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"S.146:316-2007","id":"O233619"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"S.146:320-2007","id":"O233628"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"S.146:322-2007","id":"O233630"},"association":""}],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"9.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Willie Edouin / as \"The Heathen Chinee\" / \"Blue Beard\"'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Written in ink on mount of photograph."}],"objectHistory":"This is one of the outstanding collection of 19th century photographs owned by Guy Little presented to the museum in the early 20th century.\r\n\r\nThe singer, writer, dancer, comedian and manager Willie Edouin (1846-1908) created the role of Corporal Zoung-Zoung (of the Turcos, afterwards a Heathen Chineee) in H.B. Farnie's burlesque Blue Beard: or, the Mormon, the Maiden and the Little Militaire when it was first produced by Lydia Thompson at Wallack's Theatre, New York, 16 August 1871. The piece toured the United States before it was first seen in London with Edouin still in the same role at the Charing Cross Theatre, 19 September 1874.  It closed there on 10 November 1876 and transferred in the new year to the Globe Theatre in a more glamorous version with new sets by Walter Hann and revised and additional costumes designed by Alfred Thompson.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Photograph of Willie Edouin (1846-1908) as Corporal Zoung-Zoung in the guise of 'The Heathen Chinee' when appearing in H.B. Farnie's burlesque 'Blue Beard' at the Globe Theatre, 1875. Holding a baby who is probably his first daughter, May (b.1875). Guy Little Collection","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Attribution note: Photographic copy of original 19th c. photograph.","productionType":{"text":"Copy","id":"THES48865"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Edouin, Willie","id":"N5894"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":["Blue Beard"],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.146:318-2007"],"accessionNumberNum":"146","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2007,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Guy Little album identification numbering","id":"THES50304"},"number":"GLC XIV.v.2.5"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-29","recordCreationDate":"2009-05-19","availableToBook":true}}