Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840

I love classical figures but the quality MUST be dazzling. Most figures of Peace are run-of-the-mill and don't make the cut....just a little sad and worn looking. A particularly nice example of the traditional portrayal of Peace (below) is in the Victoria and Albert Museum. This wan, heavy-hipped lady is as good as this figure gets....yet I find her so uninspirational, such a downer.

Years ago, I saw and bought a rather different figure of Peace, which I have shared with you in the past. The glaze and enamels are just beautiful, and she has a wonderful face. Plump and very English, bright and very engaging --nothing that looks as if it belongs on a Greek vase.  As you can see, she definitely is Peace because she holds a laurel sprig and she wears a crown of laurels. At her feet are the implements of war, which she is burning. Note the pretty dress pattern and the crispness of the laurel leaves. And she stands on a vermicular base, rather than the usual white base banded with a line. Altogether, a far cry from the ordinary Peace figures that abound.

Fast forward a few years, and I came across a figure of Justice that, like my figure of Peace, stood on a vermicular base. I knew immediately that these two ladies were intended to pair. I hesitated because of restoration....and a friend beat me to the punch. I know "he who hesistates is lost", but I consoled myself by noting that Justice's red dress wouldn't have looked good with my Peace.

At this point, I had only seen one example of each of these figures of Peace and Justice....but I always live in hope.  Then, a second example of Justice popped onto my radar screen. She was in a museum collection, alas locked away forever.  And then, surprise!  A third example of Justice came up. This time she was very definitely for sale, and thanks to John Howard, I have now completed my pair.

Can you blame me for thinking that this was one of those moments when my Pottery God smiled in my direction. What are the odds of getting these two ladies together?

This is not the first time that John Howard has served as brilliant matchmaker for my collection.  You may recall this extraordinary pair I shared years back. (BTW, next week this site turns 3 years old!)

You can read all about them on the FABULOUS FIGURES tab on this site.  In this case, I had the lady (a rare figure with only about half a dozen recorded, two of which are in museum collections.)  The man was known from only one heavily-restored example. So you see why  John truly is a matchmaker extraordinaire.  Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match go the lyrics from "Fiddler on the Roof." Now if John could only do something about my happy-to-be-single children!

True pairs are increasingly hard to find, and I note that good original pairs of small figures seem to have disappeared.  That's why I am surprised that this pair remains for sale on John's site.

Titled SHEPERD and SHEPHERDESS, they are clearly a true pair that have lived together always. The bocages are from the pot bank we call "Big Flower."  This pot bank produced some very fine wares, and the enamels are nearly always particularly clear and bright. As a glimpse of the past, what more could you want?