Sculpture

Although a few Staffordshire portrait figures were made after Victoria's death in 1901, few appear to have been produced after 1905. During their heyday however they were issued in vast numbers, usually modelled after prints. As well as the royal family they represented a wide variety of subjects, including military heroes, political figures, actors and actresses and famous poets and playwrights. This figurine of William Shakespeare (1564-161) is one of several versions of him produced by various Staffordshire firms. Moulded figurines like this were relatively cheap and extremely popular; the possession of a figurine of Shakespeare would have been considered a mark of taste in many a Victorian household.