William Shakespeare interest – London 1840 by John Mortimer and John Samuel Hunt
A rare Victorian sterling silver figure of Hamlet

Formed as a cloaked figure of Hamlet in a feathered hat holding a skull in both hands, all upon a stepped circular base, engraved to the base with the line “Alas, poor Yorick”, and later engraved to the lower base with a presentation inscription reading “To Johnston Forbes Robertson, from Squire Bancroft. 1897.” Stamped to reverse of base and to the underside MORTIMER & HUNT, also with 77. Figure screw fixed to base. Fully marked underneath, the figure part-marked.

Height – 20.1cm / 7.95 inches

Weight – 627 grams / 20.16 ozt

This depiction is perhaps based on Edmund Kean (1787 – 1833), who had his opening role at Drury Lane on 26 January 1814, with successive appearances in Richard III, Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth and King Lear. Several depictions of Kean as Hamlet survive across prints and a drawing in the National Portrait Gallery (NPG L269.B8.07).

Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson (1853-1937) was an English actor and theatre manager and husband of the actress Gertrude Elliott. Considered by some the finest Hamlet of the Victorian era and one of the finest actors of his time.