In the 1800s, a prosperous Brighton gentleman, a brewer by trade, named Henry Willett formed a collection of predominantly pre-Victorian English pottery. The heart of the collection was history, and in particular social history. Mr. Willett chose objects because of "the human interest each object represents." What is more engaging and interesting than a figure? Mr. Willett's collection abounded with figures showing both important people and ordinary people going about their daily activities. "The history of the country may to a large extent be traced on its homely pottery" he wrote--and Mr. Willett's large collection remains the ultimate visual representation of English life in the pre-Victorian era.
So what happened to the collection? Well, back then, it wasn't considered very grand. The Victoria and Albert Museum exhibited it at its Bethnal Green Branch, so poor people might enjoy it. Everyday life was probably not for affluent visitors to the main museum location, and I believe the V&A declined the collection. So Mr. WIllett founded the Brighton Museum and gave his collection to that institution, and it remains there to this day. Objects in museums are often just stray objects being warehoused. On the other hand, the Willett Collection is the heart of the Brighton Museum. It is prominently displayed, and it has been unsullied by the addition of sundry other objects. Its theme remains powerful and pertinent, and when you tear yourself away you realize you didn't just look at shelves of ceramics. You peeped into the past, courtesy of Mr. Willett.
Today we look at three figures that are not from the Willett Collection, but they too give us a glimpse of a long-forgotten past.
So what happened to the collection? Well, back then, it wasn't considered very grand. The Victoria and Albert Museum exhibited it at its Bethnal Green Branch, so poor people might enjoy it. Everyday life was probably not for affluent visitors to the main museum location, and I believe the V&A declined the collection. So Mr. WIllett founded the Brighton Museum and gave his collection to that institution, and it remains there to this day. Objects in museums are often just stray objects being warehoused. On the other hand, the Willett Collection is the heart of the Brighton Museum. It is prominently displayed, and it has been unsullied by the addition of sundry other objects. Its theme remains powerful and pertinent, and when you tear yourself away you realize you didn't just look at shelves of ceramics. You peeped into the past, courtesy of Mr. Willett.
Today we look at three figures that are not from the Willett Collection, but they too give us a glimpse of a long-forgotten past.
These three pearlware figures range in height from about 3" to 8" and they all represent Turks. An unlikely subject for a Staffordshire figure, you may think, but exotically attired entertainers, complete with robes and turbans, were commonplace sights at England's fairs, theatres, and shows in the pre-Victorian era. Their existence could so easily be forgotten, were it not for these Staffordshire mementos.
