Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840

Did you notice this watch holder on John Howard's site?

It really is quite wonderful and viewed from the side almost looks like a temple or shrine. To what? Why the watch of course!  A proud owner would rest his watch--always a costly item in those days--in the opening.  I wonder whether watches were left in permanently to serve as clocks. Of course we shall never know.

Watch holders can be fascinating. I have several and have put an old watch in each.  EBay is a good place for this type of purchase. You don't need a watch that works. I find most watch holders accommodate  an 18S watch size--that is a bit under 2 inches.  And the game is to get one for under $20!  

I wish I knew who made this temple-to-the-watch, but the enameling does look like much of the work that came out of the Staffordshire Potteries. In my archive I have a watch holder, apparently from the same molds. It sold at Woolley & Wallis.

This watch holder is marked FELL, the mark used by Thomas Fell of Newcastle from 1817. When I think 'Newcastle' I think 'lustre' and both these watch holders have pink lustre decoration.  Fell focused on undecorated and enamel decorated wares, rather than lustre, and these watch holders meld enamels and lustre deliciously.  I don't know whether Woolley & Wallis's example once had a lion, but its relationship to John Howard's watch holder convinces me that John's gem was also made by Fell.

I must admit to being astounded by the new items John continues to get into stock--and move out of stock. I don't know when in my collecting 'career'--which now spans over three decades--I have seen any dealer turn over such a fantastic selection of figures at a steady pace. And that includes the stock of the now legendary Jonathan Horne and Alistair Sampson.  I am so happy that the market for fabulous pottery continues to thrive...and I am doing my share of helping it along!