Recent from talks
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Peter Pan statue
View on Wikipedia

The statue of Peter Pan is a 1912 bronze sculpture of J. M. Barrie's character Peter Pan. It was commissioned by Barrie and made by Sir George Frampton. The original statue is displayed in Kensington Gardens in London, to the west of The Long Water, close to Barrie's former home on Bayswater Road.[1] Barrie's stories were inspired in part by the gardens: the statue is at the place where Peter Pan lands in Barrie's 1902 book The Little White Bird after flying out of his nursery. Six other casts made by Frampton have been erected in other places around the world.
Statue in Kensington Gardens
[edit]The sculpture stands about 14 feet (4.3 m) high. It has a tall conical form, like a tree stump, topped by a young boy, about life size for an eight-year-old, blowing a thin musical instrument like a trumpet or flute, sometimes interpreted as pan pipes. The sides of the stump are decorated with small figures of squirrels, rabbits, mice, and fairies. Barrie had intended the boy to be based on a photograph of Michael Llewelyn Davies wearing a Peter Pan costume, but Frampton chose another model, perhaps George Goss or William A. Harwood. Barrie was disappointed by the results, claiming the statue "didn't show the Devil in Peter".[2]
Barrie had the original bronze erected in Kensington Gardens on 30 April 1912, without fanfare and without permission, so that it might appear to children that the fairies had put it in place overnight.[3] He published a notice in The Times newspaper the following day, 1 May: "There is a surprise in store for the children who go to Kensington Gardens to feed the ducks in the Serpentine this morning. Down by the little bay on the south-western side of the tail of the Serpentine they will find a May-day gift by Mr J.M. Barrie, a figure of Peter Pan blowing his pipe on the stump of a tree, with fairies and mice and squirrels all around. It is the work of Sir George Frampton, and the bronze figure of the boy who would never grow up is delightfully conceived."[4]
He gave the sculpture to the city of London. Some critics objected to his advertising his works by erecting a sculpture in a public park without permission.[5] In 1928, vandals tarred and feathered the sculpture.[6] It became a Grade II* listed building in 1970. Royal Parks replaced the plinth in 2019, which caused some controversy.[7][8]
Other casts
[edit]Frampton made a series of small bronze reproductions of the Peter Pan figure from 1913 to his death in 1928. Some were sold at Bonham's in March and November 2015,[9] and one was sold in Scotland in 2016 for £60,000.[10][11] Frampton made six other full-size casts from the original moulds, which stand in the following places:
- Egmont Park, in Brussels, given to the Belgian state by Frampton in 1924 to recognise the Anglo-Belgian friendship during the First World War; it suffered bullet damage in the Second World War, and was listed as a Belgian historical monument in 1975.[12]
- Bowring Park, in St. John's, Newfoundland, erected on 29 August 1925, as a tribute to Betty Munn, the daughter of John Shannon Munn, who had died aged three on 23 February 1918 in the sinking of SS Florizel.
- Sefton Park, in Liverpool, unveiled in June 1928, with the participation of Pauline Chase who reprised her role of Peter Pan for the opening.[13] It was Grade II listed in 1985 and moved to the Palm House in 1990. Over the years, it had been vandalised several times but in 2005, it was fully restored.[14]
- Queens Gardens, in Perth, Western Australia, erected overnight on 10 June 1929, and given by Rotary International to the Perth City Council to celebrate the centenary of the state of Western Australia (founded in 1829 as Swan River Colony).[15]
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada; erected on 14 September 1929 by the College Heights Association in a park that became known as "Peter Pan Park", which was later named Glenn Gould Park.[16]
- The grounds of Rutgers University, Camden, New Jersey, by Eldridge R. Johnson in 1929, outside the Walt Whitman Arts Center.[17]
George Frampton Memorial
[edit]The memorial to George Frampton in the Crypt of St Paul's Cathedral, sculpted by Edward Gillick in 1930, depicts a young child holding in his hand a miniature replica of Frampton's statue of Peter Pan.[18]
Other sculptures
[edit]Other sculptors have created statues of Peter Pan, including:
- a statue by Paul Montfort in 1925 in Melbourne, Australia;
- a 1927 fountain and sculpture by Mary "Mae" Cook and architect Otto C. Darst, in Columbus, Ohio;
- Charles Andrew Hafner's 1928 sculpture in Carl Schurz Park in New York City;
- a statue by Alex Proudfoot RSA, Principal of Glasgow School of Art, at the Mearnskirk Hospital for children in Glasgow in 1949;
- Ivan Mitford-Barberton's 1959 sculpture at the Red Cross Children's Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa;
- Cecil Thomas's 1965 sculpture in Dunedin Botanic Garden, New Zealand;
- Alistair Smart's 1972 statue in Kirriemuir in Scotland, J.M. Barrie's birthplace;
- Catherine Marr-Johnson's 1988 drinking fountain statue in the park of Blenheim Palace.[19]
- Diarmuid Byron O'Connor's 2000 sculpture at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "The Peter Pan Statue". royalparks.org.uk.
- ^ Birkin, Andrew: J. M. Barrie & the Lost Boys, Constable, 1979; revised edition, Yale University Press, 2003
- ^ Mackail, Denis (1941). Barrie: The Story of J. M. B. Peter Davies p439
- ^ Chaney, Lisa (2006). Hide-and-Seek with Angels: A Life of J. M. Barrie. Arrow.
- ^ Birkin, Andrew: J. M. Barrie & the Lost Boys, Constable, 1979; revised edition, Yale University Press, 2003
- ^ "The Outrages on London Statues". Our London Correspondence. The Manchester Guardian. No. 25, 580. Manchester. 23 August 1928. p. 8.
- ^ Alberge, Dalya (13 April 2019). "Peter Pan author would be 'appalled' by pompous new statue plinth, his family say". The Telegraph.
- ^ "The Peter Pan Statue". royalparks.org.uk.
- ^ "Bonhams Auction: A RARE AND EARLY BRONZE FIGURE OF PETER PAN LOT 299". Bonhams. 4 November 2015.
- ^ "Peter Pan sculpture to be auctioned". BBC News. 3 April 2016.
- ^ "Peter Pan statue fetches £60,000 at Edinburgh auction". BBC News. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ "City of Brussels Peter-Pan-statue-regains-panflute". Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014.
- ^ "The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow up".
- ^ "Peter Pan statue to return home". 30 November 2005.
- ^ "Peter Pan | Monument Australia". monumentaustralia.org.au.
- ^ PLUMMER, KEVIN (21 June 2008). "Historicist | Toronto's Peter Pan Statue, City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1231, Item 716". torontoist.com.
- ^ "Johnson Park Restoration - Peter Pan". rutgers.edu.
- ^ City of London – 2: St. Paul's Cathedral, Church Monuments Society, retrieved 16 May 2017
- ^ "📍THE PETER PAN FOUNTAIN || BLENHEIM PALACE #short #blenheimpalace #england 🏴". YouTube.
Media related to Peter Pan monuments by George Frampton at Wikimedia Commons
Peter Pan statue
View on GrokipediaHistory and Creation
Commission and Design
J.M. Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan, personally commissioned and funded the statue as a gift to London, drawing from his deep affection for Kensington Gardens, where the character first appeared in his 1902 novel The Little White Bird.[3] Barrie resided nearby at 100 Bayswater Road and envisioned the sculpture on the site near the Long Water where Peter lands in the story, symbolizing the park's role in his inspiration.[3] Barrie collaborated closely with sculptor Sir George Frampton, a prominent member of the New Sculpture movement that emphasized naturalism and symbolism in late Victorian and Edwardian art.[4] The commission was finalized in early 1910 following discussions with Frampton, under a veil of secrecy to preserve the surprise of its placement, with active work resuming in 1911 when Frampton exhibited a plaster version at the Royal Academy that year.[5] [4] The two met at least three times.[5] For the figure of Peter Pan, Barrie intended the model to be based on photographs of Michael Llewelyn Davies, one of the Llewelyn Davies boys whose real-life adventures helped inspire the character, dressed in a Peter Pan costume.[6] However, Frampton selected a different child as the model, resulting in a depiction that Barrie felt lacked the mischievous "devil" in Peter and expressed disappointment over the final result.[6] [5] Barrie specifically guided the sculptor toward a whimsical, non-theatrical portrayal to emphasize the boy's eternal youth.[5] Unique to the commission, the design incorporates fairies emerging from the tree stump, along with animals such as rabbits, mice, and squirrels at the base, all evoking a magical, child-scale world without direct allusions to scenes from the Peter Pan play.[3] [4] Peter stands atop the stump playing pan pipes, capturing a sense of playful immortality amid natural elements.[5] The bronze statue was cast in 1912 at the Parlanti foundry in Pimlico, London, completing Frampton's vision for the full-scale work late that year.[7]Installation in Kensington Gardens
J.M. Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan, decided to present the statue as a gift to the "children of London" through the Kensington Gardens committee, funding it entirely himself without seeking prior official permission from the Office of Works, the body responsible for royal parks at the time.[3][8] This approach allowed for a whimsical installation that echoed the fairy-tale essence of his character. The statue was erected secretly during the night of 30 April 1912 and discovered the following morning on 1 May 1912, creating an illusion of magical appearance in line with Peter Pan's story.[9][10] Barrie enhanced the surprise by placing an announcement in The Times on 1 May, stating: "There is a surprise in store for the children who go to Kensington Gardens during the Easter holidays. Down by the little bay on the south-western side of the tail of the Serpentine they will find a May-day gift by Mr J.M. Barrie, a figure of Peter Pan blowing his pipe on the stump of a tree, with fairies, and mice and squirrels all around."[3][9] The initial public reaction was one of surprise and delight, particularly among children who flocked to the site, forming queues on fine days and engaging playfully with its elements, while the press celebrated the enchanting gesture.[3][10] Although some parliamentary members initially objected to the unapproved placement in a public space, authorities retrospectively approved it, accepting the donation and ensuring its permanence.[3] The installation site was deliberately chosen as the precise location beside the Long Water in Kensington Gardens where Peter Pan lands in his bird-nest boat, as described in Barrie's 1902 novel The Little White Bird.[3] Legally, the statue was subsequently transferred to the Crown, establishing it as a permanent fixture within the royal park managed by the Commissioners of Woods.[3]Description and Symbolism
Physical Features
The Peter Pan statue is constructed primarily from bronze, with the figure and integrated base mounted on a stone plinth, achieving a total height of approximately 4.3 meters (14 feet).[11][9] The bronze elements exhibit a patinated finish that enhances the whimsical, naturalistic appearance, while the stone plinth provides a stable foundation blending with the garden setting.[12] At the center of the composition stands a life-sized depiction of Peter Pan as an 8-year-old boy, portrayed in a relaxed and playful pose with one foot advanced on the tree stump base, arms extended, and pan pipes held to his lips.[12][11] He wears a simple nightshirt with a decorative collar and drawstring, his short hair tousled to evoke youthful freedom, capturing a sense of light-hearted mischief through the figure's balanced, dynamic stance.[12] The base, sculpted as a tall tree stump exceeding 2.1 meters (7 feet) in height, integrates seamlessly with the figure to suggest organic growth and movement.[12] Surrounding the stump are four fairies depicted as winged young girls in flowing, diaphanous robes clasped with buttons, their expressive faces and gesturing hands emerging from the bark-like surface; accompanying them are various small animals, including a squirrel, a larger rabbit with three smaller ones, a group of mice, a long-winged bird, and a pair of small birds, all climbing or peering from hollows to create a lively, enchanted woodland scene.[12][9] Frampton's design reflects Art Nouveau influences through its smooth, flowing lines, graceful proportions, and harmonious integration of human and natural forms, emphasizing elegance and fantasy in an Edwardian context.[13] The sculpture bears inscriptions including the artist's signature "Geo. Frampton, R. A." and the date "1912" cast into the bronze, while a nearby ground plaque reads: "Peter Pan, the boy who would not grow up. By Sir James Matthew Barrie. This bronze, a gift of Sir James Barrie OM, 1860 - 1937, the creator of Peter Pan, was placed here 1st May 1912."[12][9]Artistic and Literary Symbolism
The Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens encapsulates core themes from J.M. Barrie's literary works, particularly eternal youth, innocence, and the poignant loss of childhood, as depicted in the character's refusal to grow up in The Little White Bird (1902) and the 1904 play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up.[3] These elements highlight the contrast between Peter's boundless freedom in Neverland and the constraints of adult life, serving as a visual meditation on the fleeting nature of childhood joy.[]https://www.imj.org.il/en/exhibitions/peter-and-pan) Barrie intended the statue as a "shrine to youth," a public monument that bridges his prose and theatrical narratives to immortalize Peter as an enduring emblem of imaginative escape, funded personally and unveiled without fanfare on May 1, 1912, to evoke the character's magical arrival.[3] Symbolic elements in the sculpture further tie it to Barrie's fantastical world and broader mythological motifs. The pan pipes Peter plays evoke the Greek god Pan, the deity of the wild, rustic music, and pastoral idylls, infusing the figure with a sense of untamed nature and ancient pastoral harmony that underscores Peter's connection to the untrodden realms of childhood adventure.[14] Surrounding him, the animals—rabbits, mice, squirrels, and a snail—and ethereal fairies represent Neverland's enchanting magic, positioning Kensington Gardens as a liminal space between reality and fantasy where innocence thrives amid natural wonder.[4][3] Sir George Frampton's artistic approach masterfully blends realism and fantasy, rendering Peter's pose and the encircling figures with lifelike detail while infusing subtle whimsy to mirror the understated tone of Barrie's original stories, eschewing theatrical exaggeration for a natural, childlike authenticity.[15] This stylistic restraint enhances the statue's literary fidelity, capturing the quiet enchantment of the tales rather than overt spectacle.[4] Through its placement and design, the monument reinforces Peter Pan's role as a quintessential symbol of British childhood imagination, inspiring generations to associate the gardens with dreams of eternal play and creative liberation.[3]The Original Statue
Location and Site
The original Peter Pan statue is located on the west side of The Long Water in Kensington Gardens, London, positioned just south of the Bayswater Road entrance and adjacent to the Serpentine lake.[1][3] This placement marks the precise spot in J.M. Barrie's narrative where the character lands his bird-nest boat, enhancing the site's literary connection.[3] Kensington Gardens, part of the royal parks since opening to the public in 1841, originated as the private grounds of Kensington Palace, separated from Hyde Park in the early 18th century.[16] The statue's proximity to Barrie's former residence at 100 Bayswater Road, directly across from the gardens, underscores its personal significance to the author, who drew inspiration from the area during his time there from 1900 to 1909.[17][3] The statue integrates seamlessly into its environment, facing eastward toward The Long Water and surrounded by mature trees, winding paths, and natural foliage that make it appear as an organic element of the landscape.[18] This design choice by sculptor Sir George Frampton emphasizes harmony with the park's pastoral setting. Accessible via public footpaths, the site attracts numerous tourists and is situated near prominent landmarks such as the Albert Memorial to the south.[19][20] Recognized for its architectural and historical importance, the statue received Grade II* listed status from Historic England on 14 January 1970, protecting it as a structure of more than special interest.[1]Historical Events and Vandalism
Following its installation in 1912, the Peter Pan statue quickly became a beloved gathering spot for children in Kensington Gardens, drawing thousands of young visitors who interacted closely with the sculpture despite initial park authorities' concerns about climbing and potential damage.[3] During World War I, the statue experienced no direct physical impact from the conflict, though the surrounding gardens served as a refuge for families amid wartime disruptions in London.[3] By the 1920s, its popularity had solidified, with reports of children frequently posing around or ascending the base, reinforcing its role as an interactive symbol of whimsy in the park.[3] A notable incident occurred on August 22, 1928, when unidentified vandals tarred and feathered the bronze figure overnight, covering it in a layer of tar mixed with feathers that distressed visiting children and required immediate intervention.[21] The act, possibly linked to student pranks or rivalries among artistic circles, left traces of tar that park workers labored to remove over two days under a protective tarpaulin, though the sculpture itself sustained no permanent structural damage.[22] No arrests were made, and the event highlighted the statue's prominence as a public target, with contemporary accounts noting the sorrow of mothers and children unable to approach their favorite landmark during the cleanup.[21] In the mid-20th century, particularly after World War II, the statue saw heightened tourism as Kensington Gardens recovered as a family destination, with a 1943 photograph capturing children clustered around it during the "Holidays at Home" campaign to promote local recreation amid travel restrictions.[3] Ongoing public interactions, including children climbing the pedestal or engaging with the surrounding fairy and animal figures, contributed to minor surface wear on the bronze from handling and weather exposure, underscoring the sculpture's enduring appeal as a hands-on play element in the park.[3] Such incidents, like a 1921 episode where Swedish ballet dancers were photographed dangling from the statue in violation of park rules, further illustrated its magnetic draw for playful and performative uses without leading to formal repercussions.[3]Restoration and Conservation
Following the vandalism of the Peter Pan statue in August 1928, when it was covered with tar and feathers by unidentified perpetrators, immediate restoration efforts were undertaken to repair the damage. Workers employed knives, paraffin, and other tools to meticulously clean the bronze surface, a process that spanned two days but left faint traces of tar visible even after completion.[22] The statue received formal protection in 1970 when it was designated a Grade II* listed building, mandating conservation measures to safeguard its structural integrity and patina against deterioration. Under the stewardship of The Royal Parks, routine maintenance has included periodic cleaning to remove surface accumulations from visitor contact and environmental exposure, preserving the bronze's natural oxidation layer that shields the underlying metal. In 2019, The Royal Parks replaced the statue's original plinth with a new inscribed stone base bearing the text "J.M. Barrie 1860-1937," aiming to enhance stability and highlight the author's legacy. This alteration provoked significant opposition from Barrie's descendants, who deemed the addition "pompous" and incompatible with the sculpture's whimsical, unobtrusive installation intended to evoke childhood wonder without overt commemoration; the project advanced regardless of the family's protests.[23] Ongoing conservation by The Royal Parks involves vigilant monitoring for wear caused by high visitor traffic and urban atmospheric factors, with non-invasive assessments ensuring the statue's enduring presence in Kensington Gardens.Replicas and Casts
Full-Size Casts by Frampton
During his lifetime, Sir George Frampton authorized the production of six full-size bronze casts of his Peter Pan statue, in addition to the original unveiled in Kensington Gardens in 1912, bringing the total to seven near-identical examples completed between 1912 and 1929.[5][24] These casts, produced from the original molds, feature minor variations due to different foundries, such as the Morris Singer Foundry for some and Parlanti for others, but retain the core design of Peter Pan standing atop a mushroom-like plinth amid fairies, rabbits, and other woodland creatures.[25] Each was commissioned for specific local purposes, often as gifts to children or commemorations, with some plinths bearing customized inscriptions reflecting their dedications.[5] The first replica was installed in Egmont Park, Brussels, Belgium, in 1924 as a gift from Frampton to symbolize Anglo-Belgian friendship in the aftermath of World War I.[26][27] The statue suffered damage during World War II, including bullet holes from German occupation, and its pan flute was restored in 2010.[28][27] In 1925, a cast was erected in Bowring Park, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, commissioned by Sir Edgar R. Bowring as a tribute to his three-year-old granddaughter, Betty Munn, who perished in the 1918 shipwreck of the SS Florizel.[29][30] The plinth inscription reads "In memory of a little girl who loved the park," and the statue was unveiled on August 29 during a Children's Day event.[31] Another cast arrived in Camden, New Jersey, USA, in 1926, donated by phonograph pioneer Eldridge R. Johnson to the children of Camden and dedicated on September 24 with a grand pageant involving over 3,000 schoolchildren.[32] It stands on the Rutgers University campus in the Walt Whitman Arts Center, originally part of a fountain basin.[33] The Liverpool cast, installed in Sefton Park, England, in 1928, was a gift to local children and erected overnight to evoke the magic of Peter Pan's arrival, complete with a pageant celebration.[34] It faced repeated vandalism, including the theft of animal heads from the plinth and Peter Pan's pan flute in the 1990s, leading to its removal in 2001, restoration, and relocation to the Palm House grounds in 2005; a recast version now occupies the original site.[35][36] In 1929, a cast was unveiled on September 14 in what was then Avenue Road Park (later renamed Peter Pan Park and now Glenn Gould Park), Toronto, Canada, as a gift from the College Heights Association to the city's children.[37][38] The final cast authorized by Frampton, completed posthumously in 1929, graces Queens Gardens in Perth, Western Australia, presented by the Rotary Club of Perth and friends to mark Western Australia's centenary.[39][40] This was installed overnight on June 10 to surprise park visitors.[41]| Location | Installation Date | Commissioner/Dedication | Notable Facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Egmont Park, Brussels, Belgium | 1924 | Anglo-Belgian friendship post-WWI | Damaged in WWII; pan flute restored 2010 |
| Bowring Park, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada | August 29, 1925 | Tribute to Betty Munn (d. 1918 shipwreck) | Inscribed "In memory of a little girl who loved the park" |
| Rutgers University, Camden, New Jersey, USA (Walt Whitman Arts Center) | September 24, 1926 | Gift to Camden children by Eldridge R. Johnson | Part of dedication pageant with 3,000+ children |
| Sefton Park, Liverpool, England | 1928 | Gift to local children | Vandalized (e.g., stolen flute, cut heads); restored and relocated 2005; recast on original site |
| Glenn Gould Park, Toronto, Canada | September 14, 1929 | Gift to Toronto children by College Heights Association | Formerly Peter Pan Park |
| Queens Gardens, Perth, Western Australia | June 10, 1929 | Centenary gift by Rotary Club of Perth | Authorized by Frampton; installed overnight |