Characters, from Jack and the Giant Killer, Plate 7 for a Toy Theater 1870 - 1890

This is a colorful hand-painted sheet of characters from a toy theater production of “Jack and the Giant Killer.” It is one of seven plates created by British artist Benjamin Pollock between 1870 and 1890. Pollock was a well-known creator of these toy theaters, which were popular forms of entertainment for children in the 19th century. The sheet is organized into two rows of figures, each identified by name. The characters include Harlequin, Columbine, a Fairy, a Publican, and a Doctor. The plate would have been cut into individual figures and mounted on cardboard to be used in the toy theater. It is now part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.