Last week, I found America, and for one moment, I knew how Christopher Columbus felt when he made his great discovery. Did I find the continent? No, rather I found a figure titled America. This figure has not been recorded hitherto, so I was thrilled to add it to my records.
In the late eighteenth century, England's porcelain factories made sets of figures representing the four quarters of the globe. What did they know of six continents then? So Asia, America, Africa, and Europe, from the perspective of those times, represented our entire globe. Staffordshire potters, not to be outdone, also had a shot at making pearlware figures symbolic of the corners of the globe, but, for some unknown reason, just a handful of these figures survive.
First, here is Europe. We have looked at this figure previously, and I have recorded only two examples of her.
In the late eighteenth century, England's porcelain factories made sets of figures representing the four quarters of the globe. What did they know of six continents then? So Asia, America, Africa, and Europe, from the perspective of those times, represented our entire globe. Staffordshire potters, not to be outdone, also had a shot at making pearlware figures symbolic of the corners of the globe, but, for some unknown reason, just a handful of these figures survive.
First, here is Europe. We have looked at this figure previously, and I have recorded only two examples of her.
Then, there is Africa. I have again recorded two examples, and the one not shown here has white skin.
And then there is Asia. Here I have been a little puzzled because I have recorded two very different figures titled Asia. I couldn't help thinking that one of them must be mistitled.
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So when the figure below of America appeared, looking just like Asia on the right, I concluded that Asia on the right should have been titled America.
I am not quite satisfied with this solution though. The figure's attributes are a little muddled. It seems strange that America has a camel and Asia an alligator--it should be the other way around. So the puzzle is indeed unsolved...but then when Columbus discovered America, it was just a beginning for him too. Being a so-called Staffordshire "expert" is a humbling experience. I am constantly learning how little I know.
The figure titled America was at auction in the US this month, but my puritan tastes did not allow me to pursue it because of its condition. But it is so very interesting, and I hope someone has given it a loving home. If you want to see the handful of pearlware figures recorded to date, look at chapter 154 of Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840, Volume 4
The figure titled America was at auction in the US this month, but my puritan tastes did not allow me to pursue it because of its condition. But it is so very interesting, and I hope someone has given it a loving home. If you want to see the handful of pearlware figures recorded to date, look at chapter 154 of Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840, Volume 4
