To my mind, children's art falls into two categories: work executed with deliberate carefulness, and work done with gay abandon. Early earthenware figures fall into much the same two categories. In particular, some figures are modeled and painted with such skill that they exude a sublime subtlety. On the other hand, a great many more figures were made with a sloppy disregard for the details. "Cheap and cheerful" sums them up--but cheap is relative, and even today some of these figures are far from cheap. I photographed the little group below for my new book, and I tend to think of it as cheap and cheerful...and charming.
Note the quick paint job. No elaborate dress patterns here! This couple are definitely not dandies. Rather, I think of them as a courting couple. I have never seen another figure group of this form. After my rant on bocage restoration two weeks ago, you must have all pegged me as a purist. Let me burst your bubble. Here a portion of the bocage has been reattached (in my book, this is fine, because it is "all there"--not made up), one or two leaf tips have been done (sadly inevitable), and some flaking of the green enamels has had to be touched in (for the owner, it beats the alternative of NOT having this figure group, and I agree.)
I have noted a small number of other figures having the same bocage structure, including the same tiny flowers. This cow--which, I think, was in the stock of Madalena--is an example.
I have noted a small number of other figures having the same bocage structure, including the same tiny flowers. This cow--which, I think, was in the stock of Madalena--is an example.
Notice that the cow has an interesting array of flowers on the base--integral to the base mold, I think. I observed the same bocages on some other figures, and frequently the bases had a similar floral treatment. The gardeners below illustrate this point (yes, there is quite a bit of restoration to the leaves, but the unrestored leaves are as on the previous two figures, as are the bocage flowers.)
This small group of figures deserves a name. What to call it? I have dubbed it the Straw Flower group. What are straw flowers? It was the name I gave the tiny spiky flowers that grew wild on the South African veld. Doubtless, they have a proper name, but as a child I always thought their teeny petals looked like straw, so that name stuck in my mind. At any rate, it seems to work for these little flowers, particularly those on the base.
These are by no means the only figures that the Straw Flower pot bank produced. We may never know the identity of the potter, but it is satisfying assembling work from a never-to-be identified pot bank as we piece together the past.
These are by no means the only figures that the Straw Flower pot bank produced. We may never know the identity of the potter, but it is satisfying assembling work from a never-to-be identified pot bank as we piece together the past.
