1959 Porcelain Figures

This this the special edition made in 1959 of six figures.

The Victoria & Albert Museum have photographs on their website of the five special edition figures produced in 1959 in the tradition of Staffordshire pottery. The actor Herbert Lom, the partner of Briglin's Brigitte Goldmith contacted Sir Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, Sir John Gielgud, Dame Margot Fonteyn, Paul Robeson, Maria Callas and Alec Guinness, who all agreed to feature. Lom wrote a leaflet advertising the proposed edition of 100 figures of seven personalities, with their quotes expressing delight in their inclusion.

Since Briglin's earthenware proved unsuitable, Lom commissioned Richard Parkinson to design and make them at his pottery from continental-type porcelain, fired at high temperatures and decorated in green and black. The slip-cast figures proved tricky; the moulds had to be made in several pieces and most of them, except Paul Robeson and Vivien Leigh, had to be tall and thin, unlike the rest of Parkinson's pottery. After Robeson, the fifth model, the Parkinsons realised their charge of £2 a figure was unrealistic. Since Lom refused to raise the price, the project was terminated and only about 6 figures of Robeson were made. In 1959 however the set featured in London's Design Centre where Briglin sold them for 10 guineas each, and 40 guineas a set. The Duke of Edinburgh and Charlton Heston each bought a set. Each of these figures are approximately 300mm high. Unfortunatly I do not think they are on permanent display at thet V&A but the links above take you to the links on their website.

V&A Links:

The English dancer Dame Margot Fonteyn (1919-1991) as Ondine

The English actress Vivien Leigh (1913-1967) as Cleopatra

The English actor Sir Laurence Olivier (1907-1989) as Henry V

The English actor Sir John Gielgud (1904-2000) as Hamlet

The American baritone and actor Paul Robeson (1898-1976) as Othello