Myrna Schkolne: Early Staffordshire Figures

 I first saw this figure form in the home of a British collector.

The owner was, justifiably, proud of it. It is impressive, with a good-sized footprint. He especially liked the figure because, he was told, it portrayed, Lord Howe (1726-1799). I hated bursting his bubble, but the more I researched, the less likely it seemed that the figure was that noted 18thC British Admiral. Firstly, I thought the figure dated to post 1805, and I am not sure Lord Howe would have been of sufficient interest some years after his death to warrant a figure form. After all, was not Britain producing plentiful new heros on early 19thC battle fields? I remained uncertain whether this officer was even British. His uniform is continental rather than British in appearance, and where is the garter star that I would expect to see emblazoned on a British military officer’s chest? My suggestion that this might be Napoleon was not well-received by the collector!

In the next few years, I saw other copies of this figure. His identity varied. Napoleon, the Duke of York, the Duke of Wellington, Nelson…take your pick. Comparing the figures to portraits was little use. Decked in military finery, these officers all look rather alike. And then I found this figure in the collection of  The London National Maritime Museum.

This figure is described by the Maritime Museum as probably intended to be Nelson. I think this association is based solely on the fact that the figure is missing a hand. Because I haven't examined the figure, I am not sure if the amputation occurred prior to or after manufacture!

The Maritime Museum has another figure that it describes as Nelson--and here I don't disagree because the mold is not quite the same. The result mimics the appearance of Nelson's after his partial amputation in 1797.

All good things come to those who wait, and so it is with pottery. Last month, my visit to The Potteries Museum, Stoke on Trent, rewarded me the identity of my mystery officer. The Potteries Museum owns a model fashioned just like the first example I show. And scratched into the pink luster on its base are the words "The Duke of Wellington." So now we know!

Knowing facts like these doesn't just scratch a mental itch. It really helps date our figures. Arthur Wesley was created Duke of Wellington in 1814--so the Potteries figure definitely dates from after that date. Possibly my collector's untitled figure was made at the same time. Or possibly it was made earlier to represent some other military hero and it was conveniently titled in Wellington's honor after his success on the battlefield in 1814.

Fascinating Factoid.
The silver luster figure of Nelson, above, can be dated to between 1805 and 1818. Silver luster was only introduced commercially after 1805, so the figure couldn't have been made earlier. And Wood and Caldwell, who made this figure, dissolved their partnership in 1818, so the figure was not made any later. Why the interest in Nelson so many years after his demise? No surprise really. Interest in Nelson is unabated today.