Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840

Friday was gray and soggy, and I was slogging through another hard day in what has been a difficult year, when the mailman rang my door bell. (BTW, I have the nicest mailman in America. He even left a bone for my dog, Maddie, the other day.) I sliced through the copious tape and bubble wrap protecting the contents of the parcel he delivered.....and as the figure came out of its wrapping, the sun popped out from behind a cloud, both literally and figuratively.

Wouldn't these dandies brighten anyone's day? They are in the "Sherratt" style--note those signature garlands on the base and in his basket. You are looking at no restoration here. That amazingly full bocage is original, and even the little garland in his basket has not a chip. Looking to find damage, I noted a chipped hat plume, two enamel flakes, a chip to the handle of the umbrella, and a large chip to the top of his hat. None is visually distracting. To restore any would detract from the originality of this fabulous pearlware figure group.

The chip to the top of the man's hat mystifies me. I am sure it happened after production. A horizontal slice has come off the hat. But how it came off without doing any damage to the bocage is a mystery. I have crawled all over this with my magnifier and still can't work it out. Somebody has touched that chip with a black pen of sorts, and that's just fine. It stops it from catching the eye.

Of course, this Staffordshire figure was FILTHY when it arrived. Taking advantage of the sunshine it had brought with it, I went to the kitchen sink for the sun-bath ritual I enjoy with new figures. The figure glowed and sparkled in appreciation, and as I explored its intricacies and mysteries, I was reminded how rewarding true collecting can be.  That night, I placed the figure in our bedroom so I could enjoy it from bed. AYes, figures have finally crept into our bedroom too!