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Niblett, Jack, 1909 - 1990

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1909 - 1990

Biography

Jack Niblett was born in Gloucester in 1909. He left school at fourteen to start working at Reynold's Flour Mill. During the Second Wold War, Jack served in India with the Royal Air Force. After the war he trained to become a teacher at St Paul's College, Cheltenham and Liverpool Art College. Jack became a primary school teacher and eventually a Deputy Head teacher in Smethwick.

Jack became interested in circus in the 1920s and spent a lot of his adult life visiting circuses around the UK and around the world. Jack developed a large amount of knowledge about circus and became a prolific writer on the subject. He wrote regularly for the World's Fair newspaper and the King Pole magazine as well as occasionally for Zeitung and Circus Report.

Jack was also a keen artist and painted many landscapes and circus scenes. He was the Vice President of the Dudley Society of Arts and exhibited his work regurly. Jack remained active until his death on 5 September 1990 at the age of 81.

Found in 10 Collections and/or Records:

Circus Friends Association Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0122
Scope and Contents

This collection consists of a large library of books and journals, as well as archival material including posters, programmes, photographs, films, handbills, research material, scrapbooks, original artwork and many other items of ephemera relating to British, Irish and European circuses

Dates: 1795 - 2020

Circus Photographs, 1910 - 1964

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178C108.5141-5337
Scope and Contents Black and white and some colour photographs of circus scenes, animals, people and personalities including; Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Dame Laura Knight, Bertram Mills, Cyril Mills, Winston Churchill, Coco, Whimsical Walker, A. Pearson equestrian director at Bertram Mills Circus, Percy Huxter, Lulu Adams, Cissie Rosaire, Aubry Rosaire and Zena Rosaire, also Rosaire Circus, Bertam Mills Circus, Tom Arnold's Circus, Ginnett's and Fossett's Circus and a large Barnum shows...
Dates: 1910 - 1964

Circus Tent Painting, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178V11.26
Scope and Contents

Oil on canvas painting of white circus tent surrounded by lorries, horses and people in a landscape, signed by Jack Niblett, on reverse painting of female nude.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Circus Tent Painting, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178V11.27
Scope and Contents

Oil on canvas painting of circus tent in a landscape with living wagons on the side, signed by Jack Niblett, on reverse painting of farm yard.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Clown's Portrait Pastel, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178V11.77
Scope and Contents

A white face clown's head portrait wearing a red hat and green top on grey paper on pastel by Jack Niblett, mounted on brown card.

Dates: c1900 - 1999

Elephant Watercolour, c1929 - 1990

 Item
Reference code: 178V11.79
Scope and Contents

Watercolour depicting five elephants on a row eating leaves by Jack Niblett, underneath pencil portrait of a woman seating on a chair.

Dates: c1929 - 1990

Jack Niblett's Circus Sketches, c1929 - 1990

 Sub-Series
Reference code: 178V11.51
Scope and Contents

286 loose sketches and 6 sketchbooks of circus acts, animals and performers from various international circuses including Smarts, Bertram Mills and Robert Bros. by Jack Niblett. Pen and ink, felt pen, watercolour, pencil and pastel.

Dates: c1929 - 1990

Original Artwork, c1800 - 2000

 Series
Reference code: 178V11
Scope and Contents

Original works of art including artists' prints, drawings, watercolours and paintings, and designs for circus posters.

Dates: c1800 - 2000

Photographs and Postcards, c1800 - 1999

 Series
Reference code: 178C108
Scope and Contents

Black and white and colour photographs, negatives and photographic albums mainly containing images of British circus, circus performers, animals and circus personalities but also some menageries such as Bostock and Wombwell and other associated entertainments and non-British circuses taken by David Jamieson, Lindsay Temple, Den Curtis, Capt. Middleton, Jack Niblett and other photographers.

Dates: c1800 - 1999

The Irish Circus Pastel, c1900 - 1999

 Item
Reference code: 178V11.62
Scope and Contents

Pastel on paper showing a white and blue circus tent on a field with trucks and a horse on the outside, signed by Jack Niblett, inscribed Kilmac Thomas on bottom left corner, framed and glazed.

Dates: c1900 - 1999