Three Royal Doulton figures 20th century

Three Royal Doulton figures 20th century, the earliest of William Sydney Penley in his role as 'Babbs' in Charley's Aunt, wearing a white shawl over a black dress and raised on a titled octagonal base, one of Uriah Heap standing beside a stack of books, the last of Sairey Gamp, holding an umbrella and red spotted handkerchief, printed marks, 19.5cm max. (3)

Provenance: from a private collection. The figure of W S Penley purchased from The Collector, Marylebone in 1995.

W S Penley's starring role in Charley's Aunt began at London's Royalty Theatre in 1892, transferring to The Globe (now the Gielgud) the following year and achieving a record-breaking run of 1,466 performances. The first figure was made especially for the playwright, Brandon Thomas, but entered general production at Doulton in 1914.