Lot #340: Victorian-era Parian Ware Portrait Bust of English Playwright x Poet Ben Jonson

This is a Victorian-era Parian ware portrait bust of English playwright and poet Ben Jonson (commonly spelled Ben Johnson). It is made of Parian ware, a fine-grained, unglazed white ceramic porcelain invented in Staffordshire, England in the 1840s. It was highly popular during the 19th century because it beautifully mimics the look and texture of carved Parian marble.Subject: The piece depicts Ben Jonson (1572–1637), one of the most celebrated dramatists of the English Renaissance, famous for his satirical plays like Volpone and The Alchemist. He is traditionally depicted in period dress with a folded-down collar and his distinct trimmed beard and mustache. Manufacturer: The "J&BT" or "J&TB" mark on the reverse attributes this sculpture to James and Thomas Bevington. They operated a prominent earthenware and porcelain manufactory in Hanley, Staffordshire, England between 1865 and 1878 Dimensions: 8 1/2" h Pickup category timeslot {A}