Shakespeare Busts

The bust of Shakespeare is the very emblem of literary respectability. It evokes cavernous libraries enveloped in the dust of ages. It marks one as possessing the sensibilities of the earnest connoisseur. The classical grandeur of these eyeless forms imparts to us a Shakespeare of The Ages, timeless and ever so slightly intimidating.

Modern housing, however, is not conducive to the presence of such behemoths. Interestingly, any sizeable bust of Shakespeare is now sold in the distressed resinous form of the garden ornament. The largest bust available that suits modern homes is the 17 inch resin reproduction of an original sculpture by Pam Taylor available at the Globe. The Shakespeare Giftshop does sell a rather expensive handmade black Jasper Wedgewood bust; but also provides an elegant compromise in the form of a small, discreet white bust, carved from gypsum plaster to resemble marble that fits perfectly on the modern flat pack bookshelf and lends a little cognizance to the collection of books therein. There are also tiny busts available, very cheap and nasty in souvenir shops everywhere. It is instantly recognisable as Shakespeare; but also quite obvious that the manufacturing process involved grabbing the mould of Ghengis Khan and shaving the top of his head.

 

 

 

 

Busts are available from http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/shop/product/shakespeare-bust/70 and http://shop.shakespeare.org.uk/shop/ Photographs taken from current display at the Birthplace Gift Shop. Therre is an identical bust available from the National Portrait Gallery - see http://www.npg.org.uk/shop