Hamlet's reflections

Country: Spain

Manufactory: Lladro

Date of establishment: 1983

Sculptor: Salvador Furió

Height (cm): 38

Porcelain Story

About several porcelain compositions dedicated to one of the most famous Shakespearean heroes - Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, I have already had to tell the regular readers of our section. The heroes of the works of the brilliant English playwright, writer and poet (and, by the way, a brilliant theater actor and director) William Shakespeare somehow unexpectedly gathered a lot in our collection. And from time to time I try to talk about these porcelain pieces. As well as about the porcelain figurines of Shakespeare himself, distinguished by a rare expressiveness of the details of his portrait and ancient decoration, professionally noticed and talentedly embodied by the authors of these works.

The same could be said about today's wonderful composition, skillfully conveying the tragedy of the restless image of the Prince of Denmark, reflected at a turning point in his tragic fate. The pose of the hero of the work, the subtle features of his face, even the weakly lowered left hand with long aristocratic fingers - all this seems to recreate a picture of his inner experiences, so skillfully captured by a talented sculptor.

I first saw this work live in the window of an antique shop in Edinburgh, where my old friend and I escaped for a few hours from Glasgow, where Dynamo Kyiv played their qualifying match. True, we arrived in Edinburgh already so late that the ancient famous castle with torches smoking at the gate, and the museums on the main street called the Royal Mile, were already closed. Only the Scotch Whiskey Museum remained open, where we were forced to go, so that our museum program could at least be considered fulfilled to some extent.

It should be noted that the visit to the museum, followed by a thorough tasting of the exhibits presented there in abundance, was a success! But not so much that the image of the porcelain Hamlet faded from my memory.

A few years later, at one of the Internet auctions, I unexpectedly met the same composition put up for sale. Bought it immediately. And only then I discovered that the sender lives in Edinburgh! Does it happen like this...

Looking at Hamlet, I often remember the Edinburgh Museum, which was right next door to the showcase of the closed antique shop, and quietly rejoice at this amazing coincidence.