Watcombe Pottery Co.
Bust
May one see it?
Not receiving at present
Victoria and Albert Museum
London, United Kingdom
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum's own collection data
About the sculpture
This bust of William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is a copy of an 18th century sculpture by Louis-François Roubiliac (1702-1762). This small bust was produced in the late 19th century by the Watcombe Terracotta Clay Company Ltd., founded in 1869 by George Allen at Watcombe, near Torquay, after fine terracotta clay was discovered there. Since there was little local experience of pottery, Allen appointed a manager and a turner from Staffordshire where it was a well-established industry. Other workers were apprenticed locally and learned their art at the local Cottage Art Schools.
Read on
Following the establishment of Allen's firm the Devon pottery industry grew rapidly and other firms were established in the late 19th century including the Torquay Terra Cotta Company which also employed ceramic artists and pottery turners from Staffordshire, and exhibited items at the 1878 Paris Exhibition. Devon potteries produced a wide range of wares as well as busts like this for the household market.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Particulars
- Accession number
- S.327-1981
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Victoria and Albert Museum: the museum's own open data · fetched 10 days ago
- Image: Victoria and Albert Museum — © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
