Toy theatre
John Redington (fl.1851 - 1860)
Category
Toys
Date
circa 1830
Materials
Wood, plastic, cardboard and glass
Measurements
360 mm (length); 307 mm (width); 330 mm (height)
Place of origin
Ha[e]ton Old Town, 208
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 663989
Summary
A toy theatre with electric lights arranged in a vertical line, one above the other, behind the wings (circa 1830). The front and wings of the theatre are made of colour printed cardboard with a royal coat of arms above the raised red curtain. The cardboard is attached to a black plastic frame. At the bottom of the front of the theatre is a curved strip on which is pasted a colour printed scene of the orchestra. There is a small light bulb protruding through the floor at the front of the stage beside the curved strip. There are four cut out colour printed characters on stage; a man, flanked by two women and a woman standing alone. Behind the curtain, attached to a sheet of wood, is a black and white printed removable backcloth/scene depicting two shop fronts. That on the left sells 'GIN and SUPERIOR COMPOUNDS', that on the right belongs to 'J. RED[I]NGTON PRINTER BOOKBINDER AND STATIONER'. On the reverse is printed text relating to ‘REDINGTON THEATRES’. The 'floor' of the theatre is made out of a plastic coated sheet of wood which supports a wooden frame. On the top of the frame are horizontal wooden slats which would support a backcloth/scene slotted between the slats. On the underside of the 'floor' are wires leading from the light bulbs behind the wings to electric terminals. Total number of items is 2.
Makers and roles
John Redington (fl.1851 - 1860), engraver and publisher