As I have said repeatedly, I take enormous pleasure in finding unusual or rare small or damaged figures that might not make it onto dealer's shelves. The economics is against them because a puny price brings with it a puny profit. Lest you question my commitment, the only addition to our family collection this entire year is the little figure on the left below.
I have had the male equestrian for several years, and I bought him because I had not seen another like him, although RTS Antiques (Damon Revans-Turner) recently had one. Then by chance this year the companion female appeared. Is she a dead match? No, but she is as close as I will ever get, and they stand happily together. So much pleasure for a very modest outlay.
I am always saving images to add to earlystaffordshirefigures.com, where I record enamel-painted figures that I have learned of since publishing Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840. It also shows the very many figures decorated in other modes that were not included in those books. I probably add at least 300 images each year, and the task keeps me sharp! I am blown away by some of the unusual things that pop up. Recently, I came across the unrecorded Sherratt figures of a Turk on the left. Hitherto, the little Turk on the right has been the only recorded Sherratt Turk.
I am always saving images to add to earlystaffordshirefigures.com, where I record enamel-painted figures that I have learned of since publishing Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840. It also shows the very many figures decorated in other modes that were not included in those books. I probably add at least 300 images each year, and the task keeps me sharp! I am blown away by some of the unusual things that pop up. Recently, I came across the unrecorded Sherratt figures of a Turk on the left. Hitherto, the little Turk on the right has been the only recorded Sherratt Turk.
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Clearly both figures use some common mold parts, but what prompted Sherratt to create two versions of a figure that, in relation to all else made then, was quite insignificant? We will never know.
I recently discovered the 8-inch lady below in the Museum of Denmark, of all places, and, of course, added her to earlystaffordshirefigures.com. I suspect she is English, although her base is atypical. I am not sure if she once was mounted on a larger base, but I live in hope of finding another that will solve this mystery.
I recently discovered the 8-inch lady below in the Museum of Denmark, of all places, and, of course, added her to earlystaffordshirefigures.com. I suspect she is English, although her base is atypical. I am not sure if she once was mounted on a larger base, but I live in hope of finding another that will solve this mystery.
Do you know what differentiates a Kashmir goat from a common-or-garden goat? It's the horns! Kashmir goats have dramatically long curly horns. A Staffordshire version came to auction recently. The bocage appeared too restored for my taste, but, nonetheless, I loaded it onto earlystaffordshirefigures.com. I have only seen one other Kashmir goat, a charming example with a quite different base and bocage, below, which too is on my site.
Courtesy Mears and Boyer
 Courtesy John Howard | As I loaded the new addition to the site, my eye caught this particularly engaging fluffy goat formerly with John Howard that has now moved on to greener pastures. Adorable, isn't he? |
 Courtesy Andrew Dando. | And if "cute" is your thing, this splendid--and possibly unique-- nanny goat from Andrew Dando would check that box. Alas, like all the goats shown here, it has a new home, but fortunately the internet allows us to peep at figures we would almost certainly not otherwise have seen. |
But I get distracted and ramble, as always happens when I work on earlystaffordshirefigures.com. One figure or one train of thought leads to another. The sheer number of Staffordshire figures is mind-blowing, and tracking them keeps my neural networks in overdrive! The brain is a strange thing. I am face-blind (embarrassing in social situations) but I seldom forget a figure.
When I prepared Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840, the elegant pair below in the Brighton and Hove Museums grabbed my heart. Unforgettable! I didn't know how to categorize them by subject, so they had to endure the ignominy of being placed in the chapter titled "Miscellaneous Subjects" towards the end of the book.
When I prepared Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840, the elegant pair below in the Brighton and Hove Museums grabbed my heart. Unforgettable! I didn't know how to categorize them by subject, so they had to endure the ignominy of being placed in the chapter titled "Miscellaneous Subjects" towards the end of the book.
The figures are around nine inches tall. Both have lost their bases, and she has lost a hand. Despite this, I would happily give this handsome couple space on my shelves. The closest I have come is the single figure below lumped into a mixed lot at auction recently. Alas, she has had a hard life, but she will make a spendid addition to an interesting collection.
I suspect--but can't prove--that Leeds Pottery may have made these figures. The bocage is formed in the manner of Leeds bocages. Add to that, the lady, to my mind, somewhat resembles the figure below, which is impressed with the Leeds Pottery mark.
