Last month, I bought a pearlware figure of John Liston in the role of Van Dunder (below) from Andrew Dando's Exhibition. Which of today's Hollywood gliteratti do you think will be remembered centuries hence? Michael Douglas, George Clooney? Not a chance! But John Liston, the famous comic actor of the early 1800s, is still remembered today, largely because he has been immortalized in the form of early Staffordshire pottery figures. Aside from all else, the figure that I bought is so very pretty and cheerful that it always brings a smile to my face. I just love the colors, and Van Dunder looks appealingly clown-like.
The play in which John Liston starred in his Van Dunder role is titled ‘Twould Puzzle a Conjuror; or, the Two Peters. It opened in 1824 at London's Haymarket Theatre. Van Dunder is a bumbling Dutch burgomaster, who donned in baggy bloomers and silly shoes, tries to figure out which of the numerous Pieters in his shipyard is Peter, Czar of Russia, disguised as a carpenter.
This version of Van Dunder shown above is somewhat unusual. The figure is better known with Van Dunder in black attire, as in this figure below.
This version of Van Dunder shown above is somewhat unusual. The figure is better known with Van Dunder in black attire, as in this figure below.
This figure was made by Enoch Wood. In fact, the example shown is marked WOOD beneath.
Did Enoch Wood also make the colorfully painted figure? Maybe, but probably not.
Did Enoch Wood also make the colorfully painted figure? Maybe, but probably not.
Figures of Van Dunder, whatever the color of the clothing, are after the print below, circa 1825, and were all made around 1825-1830. The Enoch Wood figure matches figure fragments of circa 1828 excavated from St. Paul’s Church, Burslem, site associated with Enoch Wood.
Note that the words on the last line of the print's title---“Read it indeed! that’s very easily said read it!!"--are also on the Enoch Wood figure.
Today's actors look for immortality in the form of a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. A star of a sidewalk wouldn't do it for me. Give me a Staffordshire figure any time!
Today's actors look for immortality in the form of a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. A star of a sidewalk wouldn't do it for me. Give me a Staffordshire figure any time!
