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A rare and lovely Staffordshire pearlware pottery figure of a unicorn, a creature considered mythical for millennia to all but the ancient Greeks, who documented them as real animals living in distant lands like India.
Dating to circa 1830, this enamel-painted figure measures 4½" tall by 5" wide and has professional restoration to its horn and tail. Price: $650 |
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This important and rather refined pair of Staffordshire pottery cows, each with its calf, was made by the potter John Dale, who was active in the Staffordshire Potteries by 1818 and continued until his death in January 1838.
Although the figures are not marked, the flowers on the bocages and bases are specific to Dale, thus confirming a Dale attribution. Enameled pearlware, Staffordshire circa 1825, height 5-1/2 inches each. Professional restoration to the horns and ears of both, and the bocages have been reattached. Price: $650. |
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A recumbent lion, its expression gentle and somewhat bashful rather than fierce, exudes quiet charm. Made by John Walton, impressed WALTON in a ribbon on the reverse.
Enamel-painted pearlware, Staffordshire, circa 1820. Height 5 inches. In remarkably fine condition, no restoration. Price: $830 Literature. For this figure see Myrna Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, vol. 3, fig. 126.11. |
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These sweet figures, books in hand, reflect the early nineteenth century's emphasis on literacy, encouraged by the enormously improved access to reading materials.
Attributed to Obadiah Sherratt, these figures were made in Staffordshire, circa 1820. Height 5-1/4 inches. Restoration to the raised arm and book of each figure and some bocage tips, Price: $500. Literature: For a similar pair, see Myrna Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, vol. 1, fig. 25.60. |
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Talk about style! This irresistible pair of Staffordshire pottery dandies captures the swagger and self-conscious elegance of the fashionable world circa 1815. Their jaunty poses, their stylish costumes, and sheer theatricality make this a particularly appealing pair—and exactly the sort of Staffordshire group that brings a collection to life.
She clutches a parasol and sports an enormous bonnet—both designed to protect her prized complexion from the sun. He has cinched his waist in a corset to create a fashionable silhouette and accentuate his sleek pantaloons, the new must-have attire of a stylish gentleman. Made in Staffordshire, circa 1815. Height approximately 9 inches. Professional restoration to some bocage tips. Literature: For similar groups, see Myrna Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, vol. 3, figs. 133.8–133.10; also People, Passions, Pastimes and Pleasures, p. 93. Price: $1,150, including shipping within the USA. |
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A Staffordshire pottery figure portraying the clergyman Doctor Syntax tied to a tree. The design source is Thomas Rowlandson's engraving Dr. Syntax Tied to a Tree by Highwaymen, first published circa 1810 and incorporated into the volume recounting Syntax's first tour. Enameled over a pearlware glaze, circa 1820, height 5-3/4 inches.
Literature: For similar groups, see Myrna Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, vol. 2, figs. 36.19–20. Price: $800 
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An exceptionally pleasing and colorful bocage figure group portraying the peripatetic clergyman Doctor Syntax playing cards with a gentleman. Attributed to Obadiah Sherratt, this group has a typical Sherratt base and bocage, and is beautifully enameled over a pearlware glaze in colors that remain as bright as the day they were applied. Made in Staffordshire circa 1825, width 8 inches.
The author William Combe created Doctor Syntax, a comical character who traveled Britain in search of the picturesque, and Thomas Rowlandson's sketches in Combe's publications delighted the public. The group was inspired by (but does not mimic) the engraving of Doctor Syntax at a Card Party from The Third Tour of Doctor Syntax (1821). Literature: For similar groups, see Myrna Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, vol. 2, figs. 36.3–6; Myrna Schkolne, People, Passions, Pastimes and Pleasures, 93; and Jonathan Horne, 1986 catalogue, part VI, fig. 160. Price: $3,000 |
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Charity and her three children stand in their traditional allegorical pose atop a square base banded by stiff acanthus leaves. The underglaze Pratt ware colors give this group a glow reminiscent of ancient stained glass. Made in Staffordshire, circa 1800. Height 9 inches. Fine condition, no repair or restoration.
Price: $300 |
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This charming little man is a rare enamel-painted pearlware figure of a rotund clerk. Staffordshire, circa 1820. Finely modeled and enamel-painted, he stands just 4 inches tall. In fine condition, with no repairs or restoration.
Literature. For this figure, see Myrna Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, Vol. 2, fig. 109.13 Price: $260 |
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A complete set of the four Evangelists—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—each standing before a distinctive bocage and on bases of a characteristic form that support attribution to the important Staffordshire potter Obadiah Sherratt. The title of each saint is impressed into the base. A full set of the four evangelists is uncommon and desirable.
Enamel-painted pearlware, Staffordshire, circa 1825. Height 10-1/4 inches maximum. Professional restoration to both hands of Matthew, the right hand of Luke, and some bocage. Price: $1,250. 
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A Staffordshire pearlware figure group depicting the Crucifixion of Christ, with the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene standing beside the cross. This uncommon group is very much in the style of John Walton, but unmarked examples are the norm.
Enamel-painted pearlware, Staffordshire, circa 1825. Height 10-1/4 inches. Professional repair to a break in the arm of the figure at left and restoration to several bocage tips at right. Literature: Myrna Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, Vol. 2, fig. 89.1. Price: $1250. |
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A splendid and impressive Staffordshire chariot group. The lady may represent Cybele, the ancient goddess of nature, fertility, and wild beasts, who was often depicted holding a tambourine, played loudly during her rituals, and riding in a chariot drawn by lions, symbolizing her dominion over the wild forces of nature.
The distinctive pinecone finial supports an attribution to the unidentified pottery dubbed the Patriotic Group pottery, which produced some particularly fine figures. Enamel pearlware, circa 1825. Width 10 inches. $5,900. References: Samson & Horne exhibited a similar chariot group in their 2009 exhibition, illustrated in the accompanying exhibition catalogue, no. 09/30. For the same chariot, see Myrna Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, vol. 4, fig. 196.5. |
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This pearlware figure portrays the biblical parable of the Lost Sheep Found (Luke 15:3–7; Matthew 18:12–14), a story symbolizing redemption and salvation. The shepherd returning home holds a sheep, lost from his flock but now recovered.
Simply yet expressively modeled, it is decorated in enamel colors. Staffordshire, circa 1820. Height 8 inches. Fine original condition with no restoration. $250. |
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A chubby putto seated leaning against a bocage, clasping what may be a spy glass in his raised hand, and his other hand holds a tiny, circular object—likely a magnifying glass—modeled in low relief and merging visually with the base. Attributed to the potter Obadiah Sherratt. Enameled over a pearlware glaze in pleasingly muted enamels with bright flowers enhancing the base and bocage. Staffordshire, circa 1825. Height 6-1/8 inches. Two bocage branches professionally reattached, otherwise fine. $675.
Previously with Andrew Dando. Illustrated in Myrna Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, Vol. 4, fig. 197.57 
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A fine Staffordshire pottery figure group symbolizing Charity, the title CHARITY impressed on the square base. This appealing pearlware group is distinguished by its strong and carefully applied enamel decoration, with vibrant colors enhancing the finely modeled composition.
Made in Staffordshire circa 1810, height 8-5/8 inches. In fine original condition with only the occasional tiny enamel flake. $350. Provenance. Previously with John Howard. Literature: Illustrated in Myrna Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, Vol. 2, fig. 92.29. |
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These finely modeled Staffordshire pottery figures, titles impressed SIMON and IPHIGENIA, are attributed to the Staffordshire potter Ralph Wedgwood. Crisp modeling and delicate enamel decoration over a pearlware glaze highlight the elegance of this rare and important pair.
Inspired by Boccaccio's tale, Cymon and Iphigenia symbolize the transformative power of love: the beauty of sleeping Iphigenia inspires uncouth Cymon to become a cultivated and honorable gentleman. The subject enjoyed considerable popularity in the late eighteenth century. Made in Staffordshire, circa 1790. Heights 8⅞ and 9½ inches. In fine condition, with a few small base chips and no repairs or restorations. $1,225 Literature: A similar titled pair in the Wisbech and Fenland Museum is illustrated in Myrna Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, Vol. 2, figs. 39.3–5. Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Gail Sheehy, author of Passages, and previously with Earle Vandekar of Knightsbridge. |
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This graceful figure personifies Air, one of the Four Elements. Fittingly, she holds a bird in one hand and a hunting horn in the other, while her billowing skirt suggests the movement of the wind. The reverse is impressed SALT, the mark of the Staffordshire potter Ralph Salt.
Made in Staffordshire circa 1825, the figure is decorated in bright enamel colors over a pearlware glaze. Height 7-1/8 inches. Condition is excellent, with only minor professional restoration to a few bocage tips. $675 Exhibited at the Mint Museum of Art, Mirth & Mayhem: Staffordshire Figures 1810 -1835, Nov. 2006-April 2007. Literature. For this figure see Myrna Schkolne, People, Passions, Pastimes, & Pleasures, 262 and Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840, vol. 4, fig. 153.37. |
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This colorfully attired dandizette, epitomizes the fashionable elegance of the Regency era. Dressed in the height of contemporary style, she projects confidence and independence, her determined stance and expression suggesting a woman who charted her own course in life.
This rare and important Staffordshire figure is impressed HALL on the reverse, the uncommon mark of the potter Samuel Hall, whose marked figures are seldom encountered. Enameled pearlware, Staffordshire, circa 1825. Height 7¼ inches. In fine condition, with professional restoration limited to three bocage tips and a tiny chip to the plume. $895. Literature: For this figure, see Myrna Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840, vol. 3, fig. 133.27. |
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A striking and colorful Staffordshire figure of Charity with her three children, portrayed in the traditional allegorical pose. Finely modeled and beautifully decorated in vibrant enamel colors over a pearlware glaze, this impressive figure was made in Staffordshire circa 1815. Height 8½ inches.
Excellent condition, with only a small chip to one corner of the book held by one of the children. $190. Literature: For this figure group see Myrna Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840, vol. 2, fig. 92.48. |
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A sweet enamel-painted pearlware figure of a lady fruit vendor, one of the many hawkers who sold their wares on the streets of London. Figures such as this are often associated with the popular Cries of London prints, which celebrated the colorful street traders of the day.
Attributed to Obadiah Sherratt and featuring a characteristic Sherratt bocage, this Staffordshire figure was made circa 1825. Minor professional restoration to the bocage. Height 6-1/8 inches. $220. Literature: For this figure see Myrna Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840, vol. 1, fig. 30.32, and People, Passions, Pastimes, & Pleasures, 307. |
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A charming small pair of dandies, with DANDIES impressed on the front of the green mound base. The gentleman gallantly escorts his companion, his arm linked through hers, while she carries a purse. Attributed to the "Patriotic Group" pottery. Enamel-painted pearlware, Staffordshire, circa 1820. Height 4½ inches. The gentleman has been professionally restored at the neck. $150 |
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A delightfully fluid figure of an elegantly attired lady dancing atop a grassy mound while playing a tambourine. Charming details include her pretty purple shoes adorned with yellow florets. Enameled pearlware, made in Staffordshire circa 1800. Height 10-1/4". In original condition but for possible professional overpainting/restoration to the tambourine. $300. Literature. For this figure, see Myrna Schkolne, People, Passions, Pastimes, & Pleasures, 238, and Staffordshire Figures 1810 -1835, vol. 1, fig. 26.202. For another see, Bernard Rackham, Early Staffordshire Pottery. plate 94. References. Exhibited at the Mint Museum of Art, Mirth & Mayhem: Nov.2006-April 2007. Similar figure in the Victoria and Albert Museum (04-1874) |
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These aspiring fashionistas, a rather homely couple, are dressed in the height of dandy fashion. Both carry baskets—a manbag was then an essential accessory for a fashionable gentleman, as was a corseted waist.
A rare group, this is the only known example. Enamel-painted pearlware, made in Staffordshire circa 1815, height 4¾". Professional restoration to a chip on the front edge of her bonnet. $390. Literature: Myrna Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, vol. 3, fig. 133.67. |
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The two playful putti in this delightful Staffordshire group may have been suggested by Anthony van Dyck’s print titled Infancy sporting with Love.
Beautifully enamel-painted, the figure displays the refinement associated with early nineteenth-century Staffordshire figures. Staffordshire, circa 1810. Height: 4½ inches. No restoration or repair. $590 Literature. Myrna Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780 -1840, vol. 4, fig. 197.80 |
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Love, an exquisite petite Staffordshire pottery figure of two embracing putti, enamel-painted with original gilding on her hair. The same motif is recorded applied to a plaque impressed “LOVE,” as well as on a money box and a dovecote. The figure is unusual in that it is flat and unpainted on the reverse. It exhibits beautifully among more conventional figures. Staffordshire, circa 1810. Height 3-1/2”. No repair or restoration. $590 Literature. Myrna Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840, vol. 4, fig.138.20 inches |
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This spotted spaniel seated on its haunches on a grassy mound is something of a miracle in that, despite its great age, it remains in perfect condition.
Made in Staffordshire circa 1785 and decorated in underglaze oxides and translucent colored glaze on a creamware body. Width 3-1/2 inches. A wonderfully tactile object, a delight to hold. $700 |
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A charming and very rare Staffordshire pearlware group depicting a homely courting couple, attired in the height of fashionable dandy dress and brightly decorated in colourful enamels. This delightful figure group is believed to be unique, with no other recorded examples known. In original condition, free of restoration. Staffordshire, circa 1825. Height 7¼ inches. $595.
Literature: For this figure group see Myrna Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840, vol. 4, fig. 138.15. |
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A rare and evocative glimpse into early nineteenth-century street life, this impressive Staffordshire figure depicts one of the many itinerant vendors who once hawked their wares through the streets of England.
Enameled earthenware, made in Staffordshire circa 1820, height 9-1/2 inches. No restoration. $250 Reference. For this figure see Myrna Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840, vol. 1, fig. 30.39. |
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A dramatic and well-modeled Staffordshire pottery figure depicting the Old Testament story of the Binding of Isaac from Genesis.
At God’s command, Abraham raises his dagger to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac, but an angel intervenes to stay Abraham’s hand, while God provides a ram for the sacrifice instead. The tablet beside Isaac is impressed with a fitting biblical quotation from Genesis. Enamel-painted pearlware, made in Staffordshire circa 1820. Height 10-1/2 inches. Restoration to the dagger and one bocage frond. $400 Reference: For this figure, see Schkolne Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, Vol. 2, fig. 85.2. |
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An idyllic pastoral group depicting a gentleman piper and a lady lute player seated upon a grassy mound, accompanied by sheep, a goat, and a dog. The composition captures the romantic rural subjects so favored in early nineteenth-century Staffordshire pottery.
Enamel-painted pearlware, Staffordshire, circa 1820. Height 9-1/2 inches. Restoration to the top bocage frond only. $750. |
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Impressed JOLLY TRAVELLER, this charming bocage group offers a vivid glimpse into the days when itinerant tradesmen crisscrossed Britain on foot, their donkeys laden with wicker panniers filled with wares. Here a faithful dog accompanies the traveler on his endless journey.
Attributed to the “Patriotic Group” pottery. Enameled pearlware, made in Staffordshire circa 1825. Height and width 7 inches. Restoration to both bocage fronds, the dog, one of the donkey’s ears, and a small chip. $650. |
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A rare enamel-painted pearlware figure group depicting the Old Testament scene of Samuel anointing the young David as King of Israel. Impressed SAMUEL ANOINTING DAVID, this delightful group is a naïve portrayal of the youthful David kneeling humbly to receive Samuel’s benediction. Made in Staffordshire, circa 1825. Height 7 1/8 inches.
Professionally restored: Elijah’s left hand restored; straight breaks to the bocage repaired. $890 Exhibited at the Mint Museum of Art, Mirth & Mayhem: Staffordshire Figures 1810–1835, November 2006–April 2007. Reference: Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, vol. 2, fig. 106. |
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A captivating bucolic Staffordshire pottery grouping depicting sheep and lambs resting at the base of a tree, formed as a spill vase. The presence of the distinctive four-petalled flowers on the base supports an attribution to Enoch Wood.
Enameled pearlware, Staffordshire, circa 1820. Measures 9 inches in both height and width. There is a small chip to the left branch and minor enamel loss to the reverse--additional images available on request. $450 |
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An early Staffordshire pottery group titled Widow & orphans on the base. The group depicts a widow in attractively decorated attire and her three orphaned children gathering kindling.
The group is beautifully painted in enamel colors with flowers and grass strewn across the base, in a manner suggestive of the potter John Walton. Enameled pearlware, Staffordshire, circa 1820. Measures 10-¾ inches in height and 5 inches in width. In good condition, with restoration limited to the girl’s hand. $650. |
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A fine Staffordshire pottery figure of Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture and an allegorical embodiment of Summer. Appropriately, she sits upon a mound of wheat, with further wheat adorning her hair, symbolizing abundance and the harvest. The figure is crisply molded in relief, with a flat, unpainted reverse
Enameled pearlware, Staffordshire, circa 1810. Height: 5 1/4 inches; Width: 7 5/8 inches. In fine original condition, with no repairs or restoration. $500 |
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This charming group portrays musicians in a bucolic setting, accompanied by a faithful dog, capturing the rustic conviviality typical of early Staffordshire figures.
Attributed to Ralph Wood—widely regarded as the most accomplished figure potter of his day—the group reflects his distinctive modeling. Enameled pearlware, Staffordshire, circa 1790. Height: 9 inches. Condition: Restoration to bocage tips. $450 Illustrated in Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, vol. 1, fig. 26.93. |
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Impressed CUP LADY, this possibly unique figure depicts a large cow standing before a bocage. The title Cup Lady refers to the street vendor who accompanied such animals, selling fresh milk by the cup—an everyday practice in the era before refrigeration, when milk was drawn to order.
Attributed to Obadiah Sherratt, the model exhibits Sherratt's characteristic charm. Enameled pearlware, Staffordshire, circa 1825. Height: 9 inches. Restoration to one ear and the horns, with some bocage repairs and minor enamel retouching. $650 Illustrated in Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, vol. 3, fig. 118.34. |
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A rare and finely modeled pair of enamel-painted pearlware candlesticks, each standing 12 inches high, attributed to Ralph Wood and dating to circa 1790.
The group on the left, traditionally known as Liberty and Matrimony, features male and female figures accompanied by a bird and cage, symbolically representing the transition from the freedom of single life to the perceived constraints of marriage. The companion group depicts a gentleman piper alongside a shepherdess within a pastoral landscape. Together, the pair exemplifies the period’s fondness for subject matter rendered in a bucolic idiom. Early figural candlesticks are scarce, and this pair is distinguished by its refined modeling, delicate enamel palette, and illustrious maker. Condition: Liberty and Matrimony with restoration to the swan’s neck; the shepherdess and piper group with restoration to the tip of the flute; both with some bocage restoration. Formerly with John Howard. $6,800. |
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A pair of enamel-painted figures representing Tam and Souter Johnny, the convivial companions from Tam O’Shanter by Robert Burns. Their design draws directly from the celebrated life-sized stone figures that James Thom carved in 1828. These toured Britain and popularized these iconic characters. The Staffordshire potter Obadiah Sherratt translated Thom’s sculptures into pottery, capturing the humor and camaraderie of the pair.
The figures stand 7 inches and 6½ inches high and reflect Sherratt’s characteristic liveliness and narrative charm. There are no restorations or repairs. $550 Comparable figures are illustrated in Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, vol. 2, fig. 37.4. |
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A perfect Staffordshire pearlware model of a dignified pointer at rest Reclining alertly, he embodies the faithful sporting companion so admired in early nineteenth-century England.
Enameled in pleasing colors, this figure dates to circa 1815 and measures 7 inches in length. Notably, it remains in excellent original condition with no restoration, a feature increasingly scarce in these early animal models. This delightful and decorative piece will resonate with both dog lovers and collectors of early Staffordshire pottery. $550 Illustrated in Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, vol. 3, fig. 120.74. |
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A delightful yellow deer, poised alertly before a bocage, exudes the charm and whimsy that make early Staffordshire figures so appealing.
Attributed to Obadiah Sherratt—celebrated for his animated and characterful depictions of everyday life—it was produced in Staffordshire circa 1820. Enameled pearlware. Two bocage fronds have been professionally restored. $750. |
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A striking Staffordshire pottery figure of Sir John Falstaff, the rotund and cowardly knight of Shakespeare’s Henry IV and The Merry Wives of Windsor.
While most figures of Falstaff are attributed to Enoch Wood, this figure emanates from another pottery and stands apart for its notably finer and more attractive enamel decoration. As is typical for this model, the extended section of Falstaff’s right arm and sword has been professionally restored. Enameled pearlware, Staffordshire, circa 1810. Height: 7½ inches. $290. |
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A striking Staffordshire pearlware spill vase centered on a tender family grouping and attributed to the “Patriotic Group” pottery.
Enameled pearlware, Staffordshire, circa 1825. Measures 8½ inches high and 9 inches wide. Restoration to the man’s foot, arms, and hands; the piece presents attractively. $750 Illustrated in Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, vol. 4, fig. 144.8. |
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A delightful Staffordshire pearlware spill vase depicting a young boy energetically climbing a tree, probably intent on raiding a bird’s nest--an appealing subject that captures a popular pastime of that day. The figure is brightly enameled and set against a well-formed bocage.
Made in Staffordshire circa 1825, it measures 8½ inches in both height and width. Restoration to the bocage fronds and the boy’s basket; otherwise displays well. $350 |
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A striking true pair of early Staffordshire pottery lions, each modeled with a raised paw resting upon a ball and set atop a vividly colored base. The bold stance and expressive modeling capture the enduring charm that makes these lions so sought after by collectors.
Made circa 1820, each measures 5½ inches in height and 6 inches in width. The tail of the right lion has been restored; otherwise, both figures are in fine condition. $750. Illustrated in Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, Volume 3, fig. 126.43. |
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A rare Staffordshire pottery group of two rotund farm workers standing before bocage, he holding a cup of ale and she a basket of produce, all raised on an attractive scrolled base. The figures are charmingly modeled, with a warmth and naïveté typical of the period. Circa 1820. Height 6¼ inches. Rake and her basket/forearms professionally restored. $850.
Illustrated in Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, Vol. 1, fig. 28.36; and People, Passions, Pastimes, & Pleasures, 303. Exhibited at the Mint Museum of Art, Mirth & Mayhem: Staffordshire Figures 1810 -1835, Nov.2006-April 2007. |
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A charming Staffordshire pottery figure of a boy and his dog, with the title BOY AND DOG impressed on the front of the base. This figure is noteworthy in that it bears the rare impressed mark of the potter Samuel Hall on the reverse. The distinctive bocage—formed with oak leaves and red acorns rather than flowers—is a feature favored by Hall and supports the attribution.
A small portion of the bocage has been lost and the remaining stump was painted over. Otherwise in good condition. Enamel-painted, Staffordshire, circa 1830. Height: 6-3/8 inches. $195 Formerly with Andrew Dando. Illustrated in Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, Vol. I, figs. 27.25, 27.26 |
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A rare pearlware figure of a cow standing before a bocage on a high-waisted base, the form of which supports an attribution to the Staffordshire potter Obadiah Sherratt.
The figure is finely modeled and attractively enameled in pleasing colors, and it remains in excellent condition. Made in Staffordshire circa 1825. Height: 7½ inches. Price: $750 Illustrated in Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, Vol. III, fig. 118.31. |
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This charming pair of children, noses buried in their books, offers a glimpse into the early nineteenth century, when efforts were underway to promote literacy among the broader public. Impressed with the titles COTTAGE BOY and COTTAGE GIRL, the figures may have served as quiet emblems of aspiration in modest homes where children were learning to read.
Enamel-painted pearlware, Staffordshire, circa 1820. Height: 6½ inches. Price: $500. |
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A rare and amusing pepper pot—perhaps a hat pin holder (who really knows? 😊)—made by the potter Obadiah Sherratt and portraying the legendary Devonshire schoolteacher Roger Giles in a squatting pose. Giles is said to have placed an advertisement in his local newspaper offering fresh eggs “new laid by him every day,” and this figural pot wittily depicts him engaged in precisely that activity. Although the advertisement's date remains unknown, this example--among the earliest recorded Roger Giles pots—places the yarn securely in the 1830s at the latest.
Enameled pearlware, Staffordshire, circa 1830. Height 4¾ inches. No restoration. Price: $350. Illustrated in Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, vol. 4, figs. 151.1 and 151.2. |
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A striking pottery figure of a lion posed on an oblong base, its raised paw resting upon a ball—a composition long favored by English earthenware potters and inspired by Florence’s celebrated Medici lions. This example, however, departs from overt ferocity: the shaggy beast appears almost bashful, lending it considerable charm.
The figure is richly decorated in strong enamels applied over a pearlware glaze, characteristic of Staffordshire production in the early 19th century. Staffordshire, circa 1820. Length: 11 inches. Price: $1200. Provenance: Formerly with John Howard. Illustrated in Staffordshire Figures 1780–1840, vol. 3, fig. 126.10. |
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A charming decorative deer stands alert before an impressive bocage, bringing a touch of the English countryside to the collector’s shelf. The bocage is particularly striking: its stiff, sharply modeled leaves—one distinctly curled—are characteristic of the desirable group of figures attributed to the so-called “Leather Leaf Group,” an as-yet unidentified Staffordshire pottery.
Richly decorated in enamels, the figure dates to circa 1830. An especially fine example of the model, it remains in excellent, unrestored condition. Height: 6¾ inches Price: $600 |
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The Widow of Zarephath is portrayed seated before a leafy bocage, her child at her side, illustrating the well-known biblical narrative from the Old Testament. This dramatic and emotive subject was a favorite among the Staffordshire potteries in the early 19th century.
This figure is distinguished from others of its type by its fine, unrestored condition and by the impressed mark of the potter John Walton, stamped within a banner on the reverse—an especially desirable feature for collectors. Decorated in bright enamels and made in Staffordshire, circa 1825. Height: 11¼ inches Price: $400 |
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Antony and Cleopatra, Shakespeare’s tragic lovers, are portrayed in this dramatic pair of figures in recumbent poses. Antony wears a chain mail tunic, while Cleopatra, in despair, has a serpent coiled around her arm and biting her breast.
Each figure rests on a grassy mound strewn with colorful flowers, the large four-petalled blossoms characteristic of an attribution to Enoch Wood or Wood & Caldwell. A particularly attractive and well-matched pair, the close correspondence in their color palettes strongly suggests that they have remained together as an original pairing. Enamel-painted pearlware, Staffordshire, circa 1805. Length 12 inches. No restoration; minor enamel loss to Cleopatra. Price: $1,200 |
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An appealing small cottage, richly enameled in a palette characteristic of northeast England, with the foreground brightly embellished with vibrant yellow and deep red flowers. The reverse is unpainted. Probably made in the northeast rather than in Staffordshire, circa 1830. The potter fashioning this tiny treasure encountered an issue: the chimney atop was lost in the first firing. Undaunted, he simply dabbed paint on the tiny rough patch where the chimney once was. No restoration. Height 3-1/8 inches; length 4-1/4 inches. Price $150.
Illustrated in Schkolne, Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840, vol. 4, fig. 49.12. |
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A fine bust of Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, one of Britain’s greatest military commanders, best remembered for defeating Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815. Cool-headed and disciplined, he later served as Prime Minister and was appropriately dubbed "The Iron Duke." Enameled pearlware, Staffordshire, circa 1815. Height 12 inches. No restoration. $1600
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A brightly colored Toby jug, decorated under the glaze in classic Pratt tones of blue, black, ochre, and green. The dotted eyebrows and stippled decoration to the base and interior of the hat are distinctive hallmarks of an as-yet unidentified pottery that operated in Mexborough, Yorkshire. Circa 1810, height 8 inches. Seller's condition report on request. $890
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An attractive figure of a man in Turkish costume, likely representing one of the many entertainers who toured shows across Britain. Highlights include the vibrant enamels, lustrous glaze, and pristine condition. Enamel-painted pearlware, Staffordshire, circa 1820. Height 4-1/4 inches. No restoration. $350
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This important figure titled JAM CROW documents a pivotal and troubling chapter in American cultural history. It portrays the white American actor Thomas Dartmouth Rice, who developed a song-and-dance routine performed to the refrain “Jump Jim Crow.” Rice darkened his skin and adopted exaggerated movements that cruelly caricatured an enslaved Black man. The act proved enormously popular, and Jump Jim Crow is often cited as an early step in the development of American popular music, shaped—though distortingly—by African American culture. Rice debuted the character in London in 1836, where the performance became an international sensation, arguably among the first global “pop” phenomena. Enamel-painted earthenware, Staffordshire, circa 1836. Height 6 inches. No restoration. $1650
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This glorious figure depicts Ophelia, the tragic heroine of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Driven mad by Hamlet’s cruelty, she climbs a willow overhanging a brook; as she hangs garlands of flowers in it, a branch snaps, and Ophelai drowns. In this figure, a willow branch drapes Ophelia, and scattered flowers are at her feet. Enamel-painted pearlware, Staffordshire, circa 1810. Height 13 ½ inches. Professionally reattached to the base; otherwise excellent. $975
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A lady and a gentleman gardener taking time out from their tasks. She leans against her watering can and he against his spade. This is a unique pair in that the bocages on them are not otherwise recorded. Enameled pearlware, Staffordshire, circa 1825. Height about 6 inches. Restoration to a chip on the base (her) and spade handle (him). $395.
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This pair of girls holding baskets was made by the potter Obadiah Sherratt. Popular in their day—Sherratt even used three different models for the heads of this model—these charming figures are now uncommon as pairs. Enamel-painted pearlware, Staffordshire, circa 1820. Height 4-3/8 inches. Professional restoration to some bocage tips. $320
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Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, grain, and fertility, embodies the abundance of the earth. She is depicted here with a cornucopia of wheat and a wheat crown. A strking, statuesque figure attributed to the Brown Base pottery. Enamel-painted pearlware, Staffordshire, circa 1795. Height 8-1/2 inches. Small base chips, no repairs or restorations. $590.
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A cow and her sweet calf posed before a bocage. This fine figure group was made by the “Leather Leaf” pottery, active in the 1820s. Notable features include the striking flowers, detailed bocage leaves, prominent curled leaf, and carefully decorated base, all characteristic of the pottery’s high-quality work. Enamel-painted pearlware, Staffordshire, circa 1825. Height 4-1/4 inches. Professional restoration to horns and perhaps one ear tip. $590.
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