Tell me if you can fail to smile as you look at this figure.
I must admit that I grin each time I look at my picture of this stout Scotsman, formerly in the stock of Martyn Edgell. A simple model with bright but not garish enamels and a glaze that is just perfect. What is not to love here? As charming as this figure is, why have I recorded only one example? This to me is one of the great mysteries of Staffordshire. The molds required for this figure were costly, and to recoup the cost you had to use them again and again. A good number of these Scotsmen must have been made, but yet there only seems to be one around today. A sole survivor?
Our Scotsman is quite a sturdy fellow. There are not too many bits and bobs that could have broken off and rendered him unusable, so breakage alone surely cannot explain the loss of his bretheren. He is about 9 inches tall. Just gorgeous. I am envious!
The only other figures in this style that I have recorded are figures emblematic of the seasons. As you see, the modeling of the bases is very similar. The two on red bases are courtesy of Elinor Penna.
This set of Seasons is styled in the same manner as the Dixon, Austin& Co. Seasons, so Summer holds grapes. In many other sets, Autumn holds grapes. All very confusing!
But to get back to Scotsmen generally, they are really few and far between. I have others in my archive, but they are rare indeed.
But to get back to Scotsmen generally, they are really few and far between. I have others in my archive, but they are rare indeed.
Formerly in the stock of Andrew Dando. This splendid Scotsman was made by one of the Scottish east coast potbanks. He may be unique, but I have encountered figures of Faith and Charity on this base, as well as a Scottish fisherwoman. The base is most frequently painted blue, which is not something you see often on figures with a Staffordshire origin.
Formerly in the stock of Jonathan Horn. This stunner is again from one of the Scottish east coast pot banks, and I think it is decorated with both enamel and underglaze painting. I believe it is unique.
This little figure is the most common of the Scotsmen. I have seen him decorated with crude splashes of underglaze oxides, and I think this figure form was used for several decades.
The only other Scotsman that comes to mind is this splendid "Sherratt" deer stalker that we looked at some years ago.
As you scroll back up this page, are you not amazed at how varied the Scotsmen are? There is something for every taste and every pocket book, and that's what makes collecting interesting. Happy hunting!
