The little lion above is a very old favorite in my collection. I have had him for over 20 years and have never seen another. To keep him company, I stand him alongside the leopard, below. They make rather a pleasant pair, but they are not a true pair.
The true mate of this rather dog-like leopard is another leopard, and I have him in my archive, if not on my shelf. Clearly, the lion and leopard are from the same pot bank. Note the same bocages on each, as well as the same bases.
Below, we have yet another lion from the same pot bank. Again, the bocage and base are the same. If you were to have these figures in front of you, you would see that the enamels have the same look and feel. This lion, henceforth lion #2, does have a mate, so here it is possible to make a true pair.
Below, we have yet another lion from the same pot bank. Again, the bocage and base are the same. If you were to have these figures in front of you, you would see that the enamels have the same look and feel. This lion, henceforth lion #2, does have a mate, so here it is possible to make a true pair.
The pot bank that made the lions and leopard above also made other animal subjects in the same style. There are cows, horses, sheep, deer, dogs, and goats...a veritable menagerie.
The large, seven-petaled bocage flowers on all these figures are the significant because only one pot bank made these bocage flowers. Figures from this pot bank form a cohesive group, and I use the term "Patriotic Group" to define it.
Pat Halfpenny first suggested that the term "Patriotic" for figure groups with a certain look--in particular, Pat noted the swirls on the bases are sometimes (not always) decorated in red, white and blue. For example, the well-known Perswaition groups often have bases decorated in this manner, and that's because they all were made by the Patriotic Group pot bank. Below you see one. And yes, it has the same big, seven-petaled bocage flowers as ALL the animal figures above!
Pat Halfpenny first suggested that the term "Patriotic" for figure groups with a certain look--in particular, Pat noted the swirls on the bases are sometimes (not always) decorated in red, white and blue. For example, the well-known Perswaition groups often have bases decorated in this manner, and that's because they all were made by the Patriotic Group pot bank. Below you see one. And yes, it has the same big, seven-petaled bocage flowers as ALL the animal figures above!
Of course, the Patriotic Group pot bank used more than one bocage format, and so we find some of these figures with different bocages. Below is Perswaition again, but this time it has a pine cone bocage (and yes, the swirls on the base are in those oh-so-patriotic colors of red, white, and blue!)
Similarly, some of the animals that we have seen here come with pine cone bocages. Alongside is a small leopard with a pine cone bocage.
The pine cone bocage is exclusive to the Patriotic Group. No other pot bank used it. When you see it, you know that the Patriotic Group made it.
(Yes, the base is different, but this is another base form that was used by the Patriotic Group pot bank.)
Are you wondering what the leopard and lion #2 have on their backs? These are harnesses of a sort, and they are there because the Patriotic Group used these very same lion and leopard models to draw large chariots.
Below, you see two lions (of the same type as lion #2) pulling a chariot. And the bocage is the pine cone bocage that is exclusive to the Patriotic Group.
Below, you see two lions (of the same type as lion #2) pulling a chariot. And the bocage is the pine cone bocage that is exclusive to the Patriotic Group.
From the archive of John Howard.
The Patriotic Group is big, and I could write a book on it. But I want to leave you with a reminder that last November we looked at the holly bocage that is also exclusive to the Patriotic Group . Please take a moment to revisit it by clicking here. Also, let's get back to the animal figures again. Please know that these are all very rare and in many cases are known from only one or so example. Lion #2 is the commonest form--but is a long, long way from being a common figure!
