Few people realize how very many mold parts were required to assemble a Staffordshire figure. I sometimes attempt to work it out and get quite confused in the counting, for even a simple little bocage figure could require dozens of molds.. Clay was pressed into each of the molds, released, and then all the little clay parts were joined together to form the figure that went into the kiln for the first firing. Of course, being a figure potter required a significant investment in molds. Staffordshire's potters were not simpletons; they were wily businessmen. We find numerous cases of molds being re-used to create variations of the same figure form. Case in point is this Songsters spill vase--a compound creation if ever there was one.
Songsters spill holder group. Can be seen in 'People, Passions, Pastimes, & Pleasures.'
Of course, the dozens of costly molds needed for this figure HAD to be put to good use, and what easier way to do this than to replace the spill holder with a bocage?
Songsters bocage compound group. H: 10'. Courtesy of John Howard.
I have seen a couple of "versions" of the bocage songsters group--some have dogs, some do not--and fewer of the spill holder version. I am amazed each time at how varying the enameling and minor decorative details can transform the figure group.
Think that the potters were satisfied with these two versions of the Songsters? Think again! The same molds could be used to create two quite independent figure groups.
Think that the potters were satisfied with these two versions of the Songsters? Think again! The same molds could be used to create two quite independent figure groups.
Songsters bocage groups using the same molds used for the large Songsters groupings.
And here we see them with the maker's mark WALTON behind and titled SONGSTERS.
Groups titled SONGSTERS with the WALTON mark behind.
There seems to have been no limit to the potters' ingenuity in reusing those molds.
