When a group of figures share many common features, it makes sense to give that Group a name. The name of the pot bank of origin would be nice….if only we knew it! But alas, life is demanding, and so I need to come up with a name that at least in some way relates to the Groups features. Faced with this dilemma, I recently dubbed a large Group of figures “the Leather Leaf Group.” The reason? Figures routinely have bocage leaves that are rather thick and even curled, like the corner of a well-worn piece of leather. You can see what I mean here.
This rather splendid Dancing Bear in the current stock of John Howard is attributable to the Leather Leaf Group. Notice the thick, curled bocage leaves that give the Group its name. Also, look at the leaves on the base. They are long and have serrated edges, as if they had been scissored out of a piece of leather. These leaves are only found on Leather Leaf Group examples, so the Group is really aptly named (I think!). John's Dancing Bear Group is quite yummy. Most examples of this subject have a little lion in the foreground. Leather Leaf Group examples, however, are unique in that they have a monkey and a cat. Is this not eye-candy?
Leather Leaf figures have so very many features that make them easy to spot. Their eye-catching bocage flowers provide a quick clue to attribution, and the bases are frequently decorated in just the style of John’s Dancing Bear. Other features abound. Splotchy painting of the bases, dabs of yellow on bases, large starfish-like flowers on the base, heavy blue scrolling, and a raised frieze around the base are just a few of the features that suggest the attribution. On their own, some of these features might not be enough to support an attribution, but when several of them occur on one figure, you can bet that the figure was made by the Leather Leaf pot bank. Here are a few more examples.
Leather Leaf figures have so very many features that make them easy to spot. Their eye-catching bocage flowers provide a quick clue to attribution, and the bases are frequently decorated in just the style of John’s Dancing Bear. Other features abound. Splotchy painting of the bases, dabs of yellow on bases, large starfish-like flowers on the base, heavy blue scrolling, and a raised frieze around the base are just a few of the features that suggest the attribution. On their own, some of these features might not be enough to support an attribution, but when several of them occur on one figure, you can bet that the figure was made by the Leather Leaf pot bank. Here are a few more examples.
The splendid spill vase with equestrians is in the Willett Collection, Brighton. Literally to die for, is it not?
Attribution is as much an art as a science. There are many subtle nuances that the brain can identify, but they are hard to articulate, even hard to explain with photographs. But the Leather Leaf Group is one that evokes instant recognition, even for those new to the attribution game. A Leather Leaf Group example with a religious bent is currently on eBay. Would you be able to attribute it?
Attribution is as much an art as a science. There are many subtle nuances that the brain can identify, but they are hard to articulate, even hard to explain with photographs. But the Leather Leaf Group is one that evokes instant recognition, even for those new to the attribution game. A Leather Leaf Group example with a religious bent is currently on eBay. Would you be able to attribute it?
The curled bocage leaves, the starfish-like flower on the base, and the bocage flowers all suppor a Leather Leaf Group attribution for this figure, which portrays Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane.
While on the topic of eBay, a defense of eBay sellers who persist with incorrect listings irked me this past Sunday. The defense was posted as a comment to my 2/28 posting below. Maybe I am just getting cranky--or perhaps I have always been cranky! But why did I bother when the writer didn’t give his/her name? I don’t think “Silky” is a real name….do you?
The story about my now-famous elephant was in the Daily Mail two weekends ago. If you missed it, you can read it here. The story neglected to say that the proceeds of the auction went to charity. I do hope it was an animal cause!
While on the topic of eBay, a defense of eBay sellers who persist with incorrect listings irked me this past Sunday. The defense was posted as a comment to my 2/28 posting below. Maybe I am just getting cranky--or perhaps I have always been cranky! But why did I bother when the writer didn’t give his/her name? I don’t think “Silky” is a real name….do you?
The story about my now-famous elephant was in the Daily Mail two weekends ago. If you missed it, you can read it here. The story neglected to say that the proceeds of the auction went to charity. I do hope it was an animal cause!
