A South Staffordshire enamel patch box of...

A South Staffordshire enamel patch box of theatrical interest, c.1805, the top printed and coloured with a titled profile portrait of 'Young Roscius', the navette shaped base a pale blue, a mirror to the interior lid, some restoration, 4.5cm.

Provenance: from the estate of the late Barry Lock.

William Henry West Betty (1791-1874) was a popular child actor of the early 19th century, known as the young Roscius. He retired from the stage in 1808 to attend Christ's College in Cambridge, and although he tried to stage two comebacks he officially gave up acting in 1824.