Parian ware bust of Alfred Lord Tennyson

Anon., produced by Robinson & Leadbeater

c. 1890

British Porcelain

7 3/4 inches

The Simon Cooke Collection

There are many likenesses of Tennyson. This bust by Robinson & Leadbeater emphasises his status as a Victorian sage, with a monumental beard, a ‘good profile,’ and a high forehead, the sign of his intellectual prowess. [Commentary continues below. Mouse over the text for links.]

Photograph by Timothy Cooke and text by Simon Cooke. Formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee.

[You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.]

Robinson and Leadbetter were one of the prime producers of parian ware, along with their rivals in this area, Minton and Copeland. Developed in the 1840s, either by Minton or Copeland, it was named after the Greek island of Paros, and was very popular because it kept its colour well. It was also sturdier and less pricey than bone-china.

Created 8 February 2024