Recently, the Neale figure on my Wish List arrived--see photo in blog posting of Jan 24 below. Words still fail me. The figure surpasses all expectations. It simply is the finest figure I have ever seen. It keeps dancing through my mind as I work at my desk. It is past midnight yet I want to share my excitement with you--but, as I said, words literally do fail me. I have held this phenomenal figure in my hands for ages, contemplating its stunning modeling and enameling. The impressed Neale & Co mark beneath tells me that this Staffordshire figure was made between 1780 and 1789. That's right: over 220 years ago, and it is as good as the day it left the factory.
As I pondered my figure's perfection, I asked myself why I don't collect porcelain. If the fineness of this figure is so appealing, shouldn't I love porcelain? The answer is a resounding NO. Pottery is warm; porcelain is harsh and brittle. The creamy white of an early pottery body is so much more appealing. Pottery is comfort food for the eyes. Pottery warms my blood--like curling up on the carpet with my dog when I am cold.
On a less happy note, I had my first breakage the other week. I was about to get a very perfect figure from a dealer. I had seen it, loved it...the glaze glowed like it was still wet. The figure looked good enough to eat--and not the tiniest chip on it anywhere. Perfection, after 190 or so years on this earth. I loved it so. And then disaster struck. The dealer, a dear friend, knocked my precious baby over. The figure didn't just get a chip or two. It broke into 4 distinct pieces. When my friend told me, I thought he was teasing. But as the truth became apparent, I found tears welling in my eyes. Is this ridiculous? No-one was dead. I eat nails for breakfast and have zero tolerance for people who can't suck it up when little things go wrong. And yet there I stood tearing up over a figure! Please don't ask me to explain. Weeks later, I am still sad--not at my loss, nor my friend's loss, but at the death of a perfect figure. Yes, it will be restored but it can never be fabulous...after all, how many perfect things are there in our oh-so-imperfect world?
So, in memory of a once-perfect figure, I show you another rather lovely figure. This 'Sherratt' style pearlware figure depicts the angel Gabriel. The base is impressed with the words PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD. These words are more commonly found on early 19th century plaques or emblazoned across the back plates of large 'Sherratt' style figure groups. The prophetic words from Amos 4:12 do, I guess, apply to pots as well as people!
