Ellaline Terriss by Albert Toft (1862-1949). 1901. Bronze, 6 1/2 inches high. Private collection. [Click on these images for larger pictures.] The catalogue for the Sotheby's Belgravia sale of 18 May 1975 describes this work as follows: "PORTRAIT BUST OF ELLALINE TERRISS” by Albert Toft, wearing a head-band, her eyes cast down, on concave-sided veined marble base. . . brown/ green patination, signed Albert Toft and dated 10/9/1 [photograph of signature]. The catalogue further explains that
Ellaline Terriss, daughter of the actor, William Terriss, was born in the Falkland Islands in 1872. She made her debut at the Haymarket Theatre in 1888 before fulfilling many engagements during the next six years. From until 1899 she appeared with her husband, Seymour Hicks, George Edwardes's musical comedy successes at the Gaiety theatre, including The Shopgirl, The Circus Girl, and The Runaway Girl. Miss Terriss continued in musical comedy in London and on tour in this country and America until 1909 when Dashing Little Duke failed at Hicks's theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue. Although she appeared professionally for many years afterwards, Miss Terriss was always remembered for her beauty and for the demure heroines she had played before 1909. She died at the age of 100 in 1972" [Sotheby's catalogue].
Related material
Photographs and formatting by George P. Landow. You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.]
Bibliography
Important Arts and Crafts Furniture and Works of Art, English, Foreign and European Bronzes 1830-1930. Sale catalogue of 18 May 1975. London: Sotheby's Belgravia, 1975. No. 39.
Created 17 July 2001
Last modified 25 February 2020