{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O47334"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O47334/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2018KW7188/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2018KW7188/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2018KW7188","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KW7187","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AB9049","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AH3957","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O47334/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O47334","accessionNumber":"S.112-2000","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"Silver-plated brass candle holder representing Charlie Keith (1836-1895)","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This bronze figurine is a candlestick in the form of a 19th century clown holding two vases which are the candle or taper holders.  It was presented to the clown, Charlie Keith (1836-1895), and probably represents Keith himself, showing his wig modelled in the traditional clown's 'three-bobble' coiffure. It bears the Design Registration Mark or Kite Mark for the 30th January 1881, when Keith would have been 41\r\n\r\nCharlie Keith was a Londoner who began his career as a tumbler at the Whitehall Music Hall and later appeared at the Bower Saloon as a sprite.  In the 1850s Keith toured as an acrobat and by 1861 advertised himself as 'Charley Keith, the Favourite Clown, Tumbler, Chair and Original Performer'. In May 1868, he opened his own circus at Exeter, a portable wooden building which he called Grand Cirque Imperial, featuring his own troupe of riders, jugglers and gymnasts. In 1882 Keith submitted a patent for a travelling circus building, and during his lifetime he travelled the world as a circus proprietor and clown, erected as many as 65 circus buildings, and performed before royalty.  He died in Bury, Lancashire, and was buried in Southport.","physicalDescription":"Metal figurine of a 19th century clown on a flat base, the base incised to appear as if the boards of a stage.  The clown has a traditional 'three-bobble' coiffure, and wears the ruffled collar and 'dagged' tunic of a court jester, with knee-length breeches and flat pumps decorated with rosettes.  On each of his upturned palms he holds a vase, intended as a pair of candle holders. Baste stamped with the Design Registration or Kite Mark for the date 30 January 1881.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"makers","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"bronze","id":"AAT10957"}],"techniques":[{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Moulded bronze","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Silver","id":"THES251836"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Circus","id":"THES261738"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2018KW7188","2018KW7187","2006AB9049","2006AH3957"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES355460"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"figurines","id":"AAT47455"}],[{"text":"candleholders","id":"AAT37583"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1881","earliest":"1881-01-01","latest":"1881-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"The object bears a Design Registry Mark, or 'Kite Mark' which was introduced as a form of patent protection. The letters and numerals indicate when the design was registered at the Patent Office - in this case, 30th of January 1881. It can indicate the date of manufacture but if there was an extended run over several years, it strictly speaking only indicates when the design was initially registered.  "}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"S.266-1999","id":"O47113"},"association":"Object"},{"object":{"text":"S.145-2012","id":"O1244093"},"association":"Object"}],"creditLine":"Given by David Fitzroy","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"14","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"from top of central bobble of his coiffure to the boards of the stage","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"10.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"measured at widest part","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"9.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"","value":"","unit":"","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"base","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"9.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"base","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This figurine appears to have been modelled after the Victorian clown, Charlie Keith (1836-1895), to whom it was presented.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Candle or taper holder modelled after the Victorian clown Charlie Keith (1836-1895), silver-plated brass 1881.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<i>Charlie Keith, The Roving English Clown</i> by David Fitzroy, 1998 (printed privately, 1998). A copy is held in the Theatre and Performance department library."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Keith, Charles Henry","id":"N1304"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"clowns","id":"AAT25660"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.112-2000"],"accessionNumberNum":"112","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2000,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-10-04","recordCreationDate":"2000-08-29","availableToBook":true}}