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Offered in support of Art Fund
Lot 154

Twenty-four Liverpool delftware theatrical tiles, circa 1777-80

15 April 2025, 10:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £5,760 inc. premium

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Twenty-four Liverpool delftware theatrical tiles, circa 1777-80

Finely printed in black by Guy Green with a host of actors and actresses, their names and various roles titled on ribbons in the border of dense diaper hung with theatrical trophies, approx 12.5cm wide (24)

Footnotes

Provenance
With Jonathan Horne (five tiles)
Graham Slater Collection

Nineteen different actors are represented in this collection of tiles, providing a wonderful snapshot of 18th century popular culture. David Garrick is depicted in three separate roles, demonstrating his prominence and range on the stage. The character of Harlequin is represented twice, both times played by Charles Lee Lewes. Presumably Guy Green deemed it good commercial sense to adapt a second print of this actor in a popular and instantly recognisable comedic role. See Anthony Ray, Liverpool Printed Tiles, ECC Trans, Vol.9, Pt.1 (1973), pp.64-66, where thirty-six theatrical tiles are listed with various source prints. Most are taken from illustrations included in Bell's Shakespeare and British Theatre and Lowndes' New English Theatre.

The inscriptions read:
Mr Lee Lewes in the Character of Harlequin
Mr Woodward in the Character of Petruchio
Mr Garrick as Don John in the Chances
Mr Lewis in the Character of Douglas
Mr Garrick in the Character of Abel Drugger
Mr Garrick in the Character of Sir John Brute
Mr Macklin in the Character of Sir Gilbert Wrangle
Mr Woodward in the Character of Razor
Mrs Abbington in the Character of Estifania
Mrs Hartley in the Character of Imoinda
Mr Wroughton in the Character of Barnwell
Miss P. Hopkins in the Character of Lavinia
Mr Lee Lewes in the Character of Harlequin
Mr King in the Character of Lissardo
Mr Smith in the Character of Lord Townley
Mrs Cibber in the Character of Monimia
Mr Bensley in the Char(acter of Ma)homet
Mr Shuter in the Character of Lovegold
Mrs Yates as Lady Townley
Mr Moody in the Character of Teague
Mrs Barry in the Character of Athenais
Miss Younge in the Character of Zara
Mrs Lessingham in the Character of Ophelia
Mr Macklin in the Character of Shylock

Additional information

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