Shopping Around

Looking around the web today, a couple of interesting things caught my eye. Firstly, this little showman in the stock of Martyn Edgell.

From the stock of Martyn Edgell.

So what's so special here?" you are thinking.  Note the showman holds two horns, both original. In my blog posting at the end of January, I observed that my large photo archive didn't contain a single example of a showman holding both original horns--the raised horn was invariably restored.  Now things have changed as I have added this picture to my collection.

I know you have noted that the bocage is broken. Yes, and I hope it stays that way. An unrestored figure has a certain integrity. I do wish the market place would stop insisting on cosmetic perfection!

Next, I found this sweet little figure at Frost Antiques. This lady with the barrel (sometimes it has ALE painted on it) debuted on the pottery scene circa 1790, made by Ralph Wood.  Other potters adapted the mold in subsequent decades but I can't recall seeing this version, with her very different face.

From the stock of Frost Antiques.

Note the puddle of blue glaze in the hollow of her apron. Delicious.

Lastly, I love this little reading boy, in the stock of Aurea Carter. A very modestly priced delight, he oozes charm.   Importantly, there is no restoration to the figure. On reading children, I want the hands and book to be original because that is where my eye travels first.

From the stock of Aurea Carter.

A friend said to me recently that he has difficulty finding small pieces that are interesting.  Well, here one is. I have a comprehensive Dealer List under the SHOWCASE tab on this page.  Use it to shop around.  You never know what you may find.