Browsing the internet recently, I was smitten by an antique pottery figure group that I had not before seen. The two fishwives below look in many ways like early Staffordshire pottery, but the group was actually made in Scotland and resides in the National Museum of Scotland. Despite the obvious breaks at the ankles, I would give my eyeteeth to own it. What collector wouldn't? Objects of such beauty help me understand museum thefts--but don't for one moment assume I would start down that slippery slope!
Courtesy National Museum of Scotland.
Beneath the broad umbrella of figures loosely dubbed "antique Staffordshire pottery figures," are some that were not made in Staffordshire at all. Among these are figures that were made at the ten or so pot banks along the east coast of Scotland.
From the mid-1700s on, Scottish pot banks produced figures, plaques, and useful wares often in much the same style as those made in Staffordshire. But one subject in particular was inspired by a Scottish presence. Scottish potters captured in clay their local fishwives, who were known for their robust physiques and striking garb.
From the mid-1700s on, Scottish pot banks produced figures, plaques, and useful wares often in much the same style as those made in Staffordshire. But one subject in particular was inspired by a Scottish presence. Scottish potters captured in clay their local fishwives, who were known for their robust physiques and striking garb.
Courtesy National Museum of Scotland.
This line-up of fishwives, all made in Scotland between 1790 and 1840, gives us an idea of what these women looked like. The ladies wore a series of skirts or petticoats, and the topmost one would be tucked up to form a handy catch-all. (For individual images of these and others fishwives, see Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840, vol. 1 and http://www.earlystaffordshirefigures.com/29-trades-and-occupations.html)
The rare and unusual example third from the left jumped out at me because one just like it is currently is with Paul Vandekar at www,vandekar.com. This fishwife is shown selling her fish. Her creel containing her heavy load is at her feet, while a smaller basket placed atop displays the catch that is for sale.
The rare and unusual example third from the left jumped out at me because one just like it is currently is with Paul Vandekar at www,vandekar.com. This fishwife is shown selling her fish. Her creel containing her heavy load is at her feet, while a smaller basket placed atop displays the catch that is for sale.
Courtesy National Museum of Scotland.
A fishwife customarily transported her basket on her back, and a strap around her forehead helped her support it, as we see in the figures below.
Courtesy the National Museum of Scotland.
Courtesy the National Museum of Scotland.
Look at the base of the figure above. Believe it or not, real shells are incorporated into the decoration! Also, notice the rope-like border. Bases with rope-like borders occurs exclusively on figures made in Scotland. You see it again on this very fine pair of figures below, formerly with Andrew Dando.
Courtesy Andrew Dando.
That same distinctive rope-trimmed base supports the figures of Faith and Charity below. Were it not for the rope trimming, you might reasonably assume the figures to have been made in Staffordshire.
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This figure of Hope is just like the one above. Again, it has that distinctive rope-trimmed border that confirms a Scottish origin. This time, the colors are quite different. That raspberry shade is one that occurs frequently on Scottish pottery, as does that green shade on the base.
The figure of Faith has the same rope-trimmed Scottish base, but notice the very different color palette, which, I must admit, I find rather unappealing. The deep green is common on
Scottish pottery figures, but that sky blue (for want of a better term) is one that I think occurs only on figures made in Scotland.
You see the same coloring on the figure of the pugilist Thomas Cribb on the left. Note also the raspberry belt. Were it not for the coloring, it would be difficult to distinguish it from the figure on the right, which was made made in Staffordshire.
 Made in Scotland. Courtesy John Howard. |  Made in Staffordshire |
The figures and plaque below are all output of one or other of the Scottish pot banks, and all sport a typical Scottish palette. All, to my knowledge, are forms only made in Scotland. (Click on images to view.)
I can't sign off without emphasizing three points.
- With the exception of the sky blue color, the colors that are typically Scottish were not exclusive to Scotland. Other pot banks in Staffordshire and in northeast England used them too, so be careful about jumping to conclusions based on color alone.
- There are, to my knowledge, no early figures with a Scottish maker's mark, so attribution becomes difficult. I have deliberately avoided banding about the names of the assorted pot banks because theories on attribution seem to be constantly evolving.
- The Scottish pot banks used both enamel colors and underglaze colors on their figures, and some figures were colored using both techniques. I often find it impossible to distinguish without handling the figure.
