Military Might

I recently had the pleasure and privilege of photographing this military equestrian, and I must admit he has stolen my heart. He is beautifully modeled--note the super-crisp details of his attire--and the enameling is as pretty as possible. The whole figure has vigor and movement. Who could resist it?

​Look at his determined expression, and even the teeny spurs are as sharp as could be.

I first encountered an equestrian of this form at Bonhams, London, about twenty years ago, and the figure above is the only other I have since seen.

Military equestrians are uncommon, and the next closest model is the one below, where the horse is prancing rather than rearing. This model is lovely and very difficult to procure, and this example is also super-sharp, although the prize goes to the figure with the rearing horse.

The vast majority of early Staffordshire figures are paired, and non-military equestrian figures were routinely made to partner, as you see in the pairs of assorted sizes below.

Courtesy Andrew Dando

When it comes to finding the partner for the equestrian on the prancing pony (blue coat) I am stumped, but I believe he would have had one. The equestrian on the rearing horse  definitely has a partner, and she is below.

Courtesy of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.

Not as gorgeous as her mate, I think, but I would grab her if I could. Unfortunately, they will never be reunited. In 1910, she sold for GBP7 (now about $10) at Christie's, London, to Dr. Glaisher, who bequeathed her along with the rest of his splendid collection to the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. There she has resided ever since for nigh on a century. I traveled to the museum a few years back, but alas, she was in "reserve," where probably she will languish in darkness forever more. If I ruled the world, museums would own no more than they can display!