{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O84913"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O84913/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017KM6082/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017KM6082/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2017KM6082","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KM6083","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O84913/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O84913","accessionNumber":"S.1050-1996","objectType":"Figurine","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This celebrates the most famous part ever played by William Sydney Penley, or W.S. Penley (1852-1912) in the farce <i>Charley's Aunt</i> by Brandon Thomas, which opened at London's Royalty Theatre in December 1892. It shows Penley as Lord Fancourt Babberley or 'Babbs' disguised as Donna Lucia d’Alvadorez, the aunt from Brazil - 'where the nuts come from'. The first figurine was made especially for Brandon Thomas; the model with the black dress was introduced in 1913 and all were withdrawn by 1938.\r\n\r\nPenley, a boy chorister at the Savoy Chapel, made his first stage appearance in 1875 in the original production of <i>Trial By Jury</i>, but made his name in 1884 as Reverend Robert Spalding in <i>The Private Secretary</i> at London's Globe Theatre. Penley was associated with this part until 1892 when he produced and starred in <i>Charley's Aunt</i> at Bury St. Edmunds. It was produced at the Royalty Theatre in London that December, and transferred to the Globe in 1893.  It was a huge success, achieving the record-breaking run of 1,466 performances.  Several different posters and souvenirs were produced during its run.\r\n\r\nRoyal Doulton began in Lambeth, London, in 1815 when John Doulton manufactured ceramic items such as stoneware bottles and sewer pipes. The Victorian revolution in hygiene and sanitation ensured the success of  the firm which later produced tableware and commemorative items.  Doulton's moved to Burslem in The Potteries in 1882, attaining a Royal Warrant in 1901.","physicalDescription":"Earthenware figurine of W.S. Penley as Lord Fancourt Babberley disguised as Charley's Aunt in long skirt, shawl and a hat.  Around the glazed white base of the figurine is the under-glaze inscription 'Mr. W.S. Penley as Charley's Aunt'.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Toft, Albert","id":"A6921"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Doulton Ceramic Factory","id":"A9090"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28674"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"earthenware","id":"x29356"},{"text":"porcelain","id":"AAT10662"},{"text":"Glaze","id":"AAT15091"},{"text":"ceramic","id":"AAT235507"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Moulded and glazed earthenware","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Figures & Decorative ceramics","id":"THES48954"},{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"},{"text":"Earthenware","id":"THES48964"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2017KM6082","2017KM6083"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES355444"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"figurines","id":"AAT47455"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Staffordshire","id":"x29181"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"c. 1913","earliest":"1913-01-01","latest":"1913-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"S.14-1976","id":"O119403"},"association":"Object"},{"object":{"text":"S.1433-1986","id":"O116768"},"association":"Object"},{"object":{"text":"S.1056-1996","id":"O122861"},"association":"Object"}],"creditLine":"Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"18.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"9.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This earthenware figurine celebrates the most famous part ever played by W.S. Penley (1852-1912), Lord Fancourt Babberley or 'Babbs' who, in the farce 'Charley's Aunt' by Brandon Thomas, is disguised as Donna Lucia d’ Alvadorez, the aunt from Brazil. The play had a record run of 1,466 performances after it opened at the Royalty Theatre in December 1882.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"W.S. Penley (1852-1912) as Lord Fancourt Babberley disguised as Charley's Aunt in the play of the same name, Royalty Theatre, 21 December 1892. Earthenware, Royal Doulton, c.1913.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Attribution note: Doulton's production number:  HN35","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Penley, William Sydney","id":"N4709"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.1050-1996"],"accessionNumberNum":"1050","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1996,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-23","recordCreationDate":"2003-10-24","availableToBook":true}}