WILLIAM EWART GLADSTONE (1809-1898)
BENJAMIN DISRAELI, LORD BEACONSFIELD (1804-1881)
Ceramic portrait sculptures, H. 16 and 17 inches respectively
Wayte and Ridge, Staffordshire, 1876

HESE witty depictions of Gladstone and Disraeli were created by the Staffordshire firm of Wayte and Ridge in 1876. At that time Gladstone was not Prime Minister (he served in the office four times between 1868 and 1894) and Disraeli was (he served twice between 1868 and 1880). 1876 was the year Disraeli made Queen Victoria Empress of India and was the same year he was created Lord Beaconsfield. Gladstone was notably anti-imperialist, and Disraeli was obviously not, a quality in him for which Bismarck was full of admiration, saying; 'Der alte Jude, das ist ein mann.' Disraeli had, of course converted to the Church of England at the age of twelve. This notwithstanding, he rose to the highest office of any Jew in the history of the British Empire.

$4,750

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