Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840

In my April 2 blog posting, I showed you two sweet figures with giant flowers in their bocages. I do have two more, and the fact that I have them makes me believe a Pottery God smiles my way now and again!

In my Nov 08, 2008 blog posting, I showed you the figure on the left, sometimes found titled Scuffle. Click here to read that posting. I was so excited to find the figure because, although Scuffle is quite a common figure, I had never seen it with either this base or the gorgeous giant flower bocage. 

Fast forward only about 3 months and I found the figure on the right. It is usually called Contest....although titling (when the figures are actually titled) is not consistent and sometimes Scuffle is titled Contest, and Contest is titled Scuffle.

I found Scuffle in the US and Contest in the UK. To this day, I have not seen other examples of this base, nor have I seen this bocage on any other Scuffle or Contest figure. Despite the slight difference in painting, these figures clearly were made in the same potbank at about the same time. Somehow, they managed to end up an ocean apart....and now they are united. Quite a miracle is it not? At times like this, I do believe in a Pottery God.

If you read my blog posting of March 26, you will recall that I found a rare Staffordshire figure AND a French figure of the same form. One clearly inspired the other. (Click here to read.) I found them in the same month, the one in the Staffordshire potteries, the other in Providence, Rhode Island. Did a Pottery God guide me? I like to think so. Pottery God, if you are listening, thank you, and I still need LOTS of help.