From 1981 to 2009, one of the highlights of the ceramics year was Jonathan Horne's annual selling exhibition, held at his London premises for 29 consecutive years. Jonathan had an eye for rarities, and this amazing garniture appeared in his Exhibition in 1987.
The grouping is described as "A garniture of enamelled figures of huntsmen with their dogs, each figure impressed "Walton" on a small scroll applied to the back. Tallest 6-1/2". C1820" Jonathan went on to say that "This complete set appears to be unrecorded."
An amazing garniture, it is. Prior to Jonathan's catalogue publication I don't believe anyone had recorded even one of these figures. In fact, no-one realized that John Walton had made a garniture of any form. But complete it is not!
To say these figures are rare is an understatement, but in recent years we discovered yet another figure that also fits into this garniture. It is a small figure of a fleeing hare. Clearly this is what the hunt is all about! Presently, two examples of this hare are recorded, and I have photographed one here alongside a sportsman, perpetually in pursuit.
An amazing garniture, it is. Prior to Jonathan's catalogue publication I don't believe anyone had recorded even one of these figures. In fact, no-one realized that John Walton had made a garniture of any form. But complete it is not!
To say these figures are rare is an understatement, but in recent years we discovered yet another figure that also fits into this garniture. It is a small figure of a fleeing hare. Clearly this is what the hunt is all about! Presently, two examples of this hare are recorded, and I have photographed one here alongside a sportsman, perpetually in pursuit.
The hare made the garniture a 5-piece ensemble, potentially. Delicious, is it not?
Collectors, like sportsmen, find the hunt itself to be the fun of the game! Recently the stakes were upped when yet another small figure appeared at auction. Again, bearing the Walton banner, this small figure grouping of two pheasants is perfectly sized to fit into the garniture. It will be in the book that Malcolm and I are working on. Attribution here is easy: these figures are all marked, and we have not found any unmarked examples.
If you are even thinking of sending us pictures for the book, please please do so--and thank you to those who already have. Won't it be great to have thousands of figures to look at on paper, when all is said and done? I have wanted this book forever....I just didn't think I would have to write it. We hope to hand our work over to our publisher later next year, so hang in there. It will happen!
Collectors, like sportsmen, find the hunt itself to be the fun of the game! Recently the stakes were upped when yet another small figure appeared at auction. Again, bearing the Walton banner, this small figure grouping of two pheasants is perfectly sized to fit into the garniture. It will be in the book that Malcolm and I are working on. Attribution here is easy: these figures are all marked, and we have not found any unmarked examples.
If you are even thinking of sending us pictures for the book, please please do so--and thank you to those who already have. Won't it be great to have thousands of figures to look at on paper, when all is said and done? I have wanted this book forever....I just didn't think I would have to write it. We hope to hand our work over to our publisher later next year, so hang in there. It will happen!
