Myrna Schkolne: Early Staffordshire Figures

This incredible, amazing, delicious, devine pearlware spill holder debuted and sold in the UK this week. In the 'Sherratt' style, it is the only known example and I live in hope of finding something 'new' like this! Fortunately, I know the new owner and will get to see this figure in the flesh at some time in the future.

The English lion and Scotland's unicorn, seen here, are the supporters found on either side of England's coat of arms. When King James VI of Scotland also became King of England in 1603, he placed the unicorn alongside the lion on the arms. Traditionally, both animals had been regarded as King of the Beasts and were thought to be deadly enemies! But by placing them besides each other, King James symbolized harmony between England and Scotland. Nice diplomatic touch. And this peace was, miraculously, achieved without the intervention of today's United Nations. How cpuld this have happened?

This spill holder is definitely attributable to "Sherratt" because the distinctive rainbow base is only found on other figures that have multiple features linking them to "Sherratt." But the lion and unicorn are best known to Staffordshire figure collectors from the marked WALTON armorial spill vase, seen below.

The Walton group is rare but not unique. At its base is "Dieu et Mon Droit" (French for "God and My Right), a phrase believed to have been first used by King Richard I as a password at the Battle of Gisor in 1198. In the 15th century, these words became the royal motto. In the center, the French words "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense" are emblazoned on a garter, for this is the motto of the Order of the Garter, the supreme British order of chivalry founded in 1348 by King Edward III. Legend tells that the king was dancing with the Countess of Salisbury when her garter slipped to her ankle. Courtiers tittered, but Edward gallantly placed the garter around his own leg, uttering those now- famous French words, which translate to "Shame on him who evil thinks." The garter surrounds a quartered shield depicting England's lion passants, the rampant Scottish lion, and the Irish harp. Our English lion and Scottish unicorn are on either side--the unicorn is chained because in Medieval times a chained unicorn was thought to be a dangerous beast that could only be tamed by a virgin. A crown in atop the shield and national floral emblems--a rose, thistle, and shamrock--are at its base.

French, in my opinion, should not be on England's royal Arms, but then Spanish is all over our American products. The world is but a village, I guess, and perhaps England was centuries ahead of the game. Seems that the potter we like to think was Obadiah Sherratt had a little problem with all that French too.....but then "Sherratt" style figures often had trouble getting even the English right. In any event, "Sherratt" obviously liked lions and unicorns enough to attempt to incorporate them into a figure group he could understand.  And the result is the fantasmagorical spill vase that still has me ooh-ing and ah-ing. The thing about "Sherratt" groups is their quirky naivete, and this one has it all. A clock, adorable sheep, a beautiful classical relief, and brilliant enamels all fight for your eye's attention. Which to look at first? Incredibly, this piece has survived the centuries in extraordinarily good condition. Yes, the tails of the lion and unicorn have of course required attention, but the animals remain attached to their precarious perches, and even those four sweet sheep are unscathed by time. Miracles do never cease. Who knows what will turn up next week?

Obscure Observations:

• I have found this spill vase form (identical mold, including the lady at the top) on one other figure. That figure group does not have a lion and unicorn. Instead, the figures of Maria Marten and William Corder stand to each side and a small plaque on the front reads W. CORDER & M. MARTEN. William Corder murdered Maria Marten in the notorious Red Barn Murder of 1828. The Red Barn spill holder can be linked to "Sherratt" because the same forms of Corder and Marten (with similar dress pattern) occur on the brown-claw table base that is also "Sherratt". You can see this figure in my book, People, Passions, Pastimes, and Pleasures: Staffordshire Figures 1810-1835. And the story of the crime is a great read.
• The spill vase form with a clock and lion and unicorn to either side occurs in the Victorian period. Was our rare "Sherratt" version its inspiration?