In the lethargy of these lazy lockdown days, I struggle to write anything worth reading. But as Dallas will be besieged by COVID for a good while longer, I must snap out of it! In my defense, the almost total disappearance of auctions for many weeks means that little fresh has come to market, but that is gradually changing, and I am finding fodder for thought daily.
Last month, this unusual little figure came up at Woolley and Wallis. Most auction houses would have lumped it into a lot with unremarkable figures, but, to their credit, Woolley and Wallis gave this little lady a lot of her own. She is special because she is a Leeds Pottery figure, and those are almost as rare as hen's teeth today. Although unmarked, bidders recognized her worthiness, and she did rather well.
Last month, this unusual little figure came up at Woolley and Wallis. Most auction houses would have lumped it into a lot with unremarkable figures, but, to their credit, Woolley and Wallis gave this little lady a lot of her own. She is special because she is a Leeds Pottery figure, and those are almost as rare as hen's teeth today. Although unmarked, bidders recognized her worthiness, and she did rather well.
I know this figure from the pair below, photographed from a book or magazine. I bought the Woolley and Wallis figure and hope some day to find the male figure to make the pair.
I have covered Leeds Pottery figures previously, so if you type LEEDS POTTERY into the search box at the top of this page, you can access those articles. I have three other Leeds figures in my collection, and, if you look at their faces, below, you can't help but notice the strong family resemblance. Those little pinched faces are hard to forget!
Note to self: other points of similarity are the use of dotted dress pattens and watery brown enamels on the bases. Perhaps these will open my eyes to other Leeds figures in the future. No photo can ever adequately convey their delicate beauty, and they top my list of favorites, just one notch ahead of Neale figures.
There are plenty of other unusual figures surfacing as Britain gets up to speed. John Howard, who never seemed to miss a beat right through the COVID shutdown, added this pair of cows recently. How nice to see these as a true pair.
There are plenty of other unusual figures surfacing as Britain gets up to speed. John Howard, who never seemed to miss a beat right through the COVID shutdown, added this pair of cows recently. How nice to see these as a true pair.
Courtesy John Howard.
And if cows aren't your thing, John also has a good-looking pair of dogs.
Courtesy John Howard.
If animals also don't push your button, what's not to like about this sweet pair portraying the Sailor's Farewell and the Sailor's Return, now in the stock of Mears & Boyer? Eye candy, aren't they? It's so unusual to find a pair with their bocages intact and with the original blue enameling to the coats. Too often the blue has flaked, and the restoration is usually jarringly bright.
Courtesy Mears & Boyer
Does the lovely figure below, in the stock of Andrew Dando, remind you of some other figure form?
Courtesy Andrew Dando
When I first saw one like it, in the collection at Winterthur, I did a double-take, because it looked half way between a figure of the Lost Sheep (below left) and a Flemish Music figure (below right). But rest assured, the figure is not a gummed-up restoration--not that Andrew would tolerate that in his stock. Rather, some potter creatively adapted the molds to create a new figure form. Both Andrew's figure and the Winterthur example are decorated in underglaze colors, and the museum labels the subject as a snuff taker. I am not convinced that's correct, but, if you add Andrew's figure to your collection, you can call it whatever you would like to call it!
 |  Courtesy Andrew Dando |
At the low end of the price spectrum, there are some interesting small figures floating around. I have not previously seen this tiny version of a plump, bare-breasted Venus, height 6.5 inches.
Courtesy eBay seller somereallygoodstuff
The petite version of the Vicar and Moses, below left, is another that I have not seen hitherto. Although the vicar has the same facial features as his larger counterpart, Moses is an entirely new creation.
Courtesy Keys Fine Arts
The unusual always sparks my interest, and the decoration on the base on the deer at the left fits the bill. Similarly, the crude but charming sheep on the right. I can't recall seeing a sheep on a yellow base previously.
 Courtesy Westport Auctions |  Courtesy eBay seller rcstewartcoantiques |
This primitive, immodest, and rather striking Virgin Mary caught my eye.
Courtesy Lacy Scott and Knight.
She is decorated in underglaze colors, as are the one or two other examples I have encountered (see http://www.earlystaffordshirefigures.com/107-virgin-mary.html), but here the colors are particularly bright and pretty, and the base is of a different form.
And last but not least among the unusual items I have seen of late are these three pearlware stoups, all in the stock of Elinor Penna. Very colorful, aren't they?
And last but not least among the unusual items I have seen of late are these three pearlware stoups, all in the stock of Elinor Penna. Very colorful, aren't they?
Courtesy Elinor Penna.
So, as always, keep your eyes open. You just never know what will turn up next!
