Early Staffordshire pearlware and creamware pottery figures

The Green Man

8/21/2016

How the years fly, and it has been many years since my collector and dealer friend Nick Burton sent this engaging little Staffordshire pottery figure my way. Small as he is, this pearlware bird nester exudes a certain charm that captivated both Nick and me--caught at the moment he robs a bird of its nest, he has such a guilty expression on his face! I dubbed him the Green Man, and I truly have enjoyed owning him.

antique Staffordshire pottery, antique Staffordshire figure, pearlware figure, Myrna Schkolne

If your cup is full, don't ever let it stop you wanting more. And, in that spirit, I wanted more for my Green Man. I wanted his mate, the companion figure. I knew there had to have been one, but she was elusive. The closest I came was a gentleman companion. As you see, the man below is from many of the same molds. But note that his jacket is quite shorter. I suspect he was made subsequently, after the molds had been modified. He is very nice, but he is rather lifeless by comparison and just didn't qualify as Mate for Life for my Green Man!

When I was preparing Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840, I found my Green Man's lost love---in the home of another. Fortunately, the owner was a collector friend, and he has now allowed me to have her. So, at last, this little pair of bird nesters sits contentedly on my shelf, together, as they should be.

I wish I could say they are together forever, but I fear not. At the end of my time I dare say they will be tossed into random lots at an auction house and will be separated again. But for a while at least, all is at it should be.

6 Comments

Meredith

8/26/2016 04:59:08 am

Myna, so happy for you! This sweet couple was destined to be together. Thank you for sharing your vast knowledge and fascinating insight into Pre-Victorian Staffordshire figures. I rejoice with you upon every addition to your fabulous collection!

Myrna Schkolne

8/26/2016 07:54:15 am

Thank you, Meredith, for those too kind words. I learn each time I write, so thank you for keeping me going! And I rejoice in seeing your collection grow in the right direction by leaps and bounds.

Nick

8/28/2016 02:23:23 pm

Love it x

Myrna Schkolne

8/28/2016 03:31:09 pm

Couldn't have happened without you, Nick. THANK YOU--for this and everything else.
xx

Kristin

1/3/2017 09:24:13 pm

Very sweet figures.

I am sure you know the importance of your collection, you have collected the best examples and concentrate on the rare as well. Whatever arrangements you make for them, I would think a highly reputable auction house would want to promote the best for this collection for their reputation sake out of respect for the collection, especially if they have your own personal catalogue.

I must say, I tried telling an ordinary auction house they had mis-matched a pair, told them one from one lot went with one from the other, not the one they placed it with. They had responded but didn't fix the lots, at least online.

Myrna

1/3/2017 09:34:06 pm

Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I have little hope that anyone will care about my collection when I am gone, and I have no faith in any auction house even caring to do it justice. But I have prepared a comprehensive catalog that has woven through it my personal collecting story. Some day, I may make it available at no cost, a free PDF. I want to ensure that what I have learned gets passed on to future collectors. Hope that doesn't sound too much like ego! I wish collectors of past times had left this type of record for me, hence my attempt.