Early Staffordshire figures of Billy Waters give us a realistic glimpse of a notable individual of the early 1800s. Waters was a black peg-legged former American slave who entertained passers-by on London's streets then. He was a well-known character, and he even had a brief role in a play titled Life in London.
Whereas nearly all Staffordshire figures have companion models, Billy Waters figures like the one below left stand alone. An engraving of 1819 that served as the design source for the figure is shown alongside.
Whereas nearly all Staffordshire figures have companion models, Billy Waters figures like the one below left stand alone. An engraving of 1819 that served as the design source for the figure is shown alongside.
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We acquired our figure of Billy Waters from John Howard many years ago. Shortly thereafter John got another into stock that piqued my curiosity, and it too was added to our shelves. Shown alongside, it is from different molds, and BIlly's skin is white. Did the potter run out of black paint? It seems this was deliberate because an identical figure in the Victoria and Albert Museum also has white skin. Both are titled WATERS, so there is not doubt as to the gentleman's identity.
The Victoria and Albert Museum's figure has a companion figure titled Douglas. I am a patient collector and am prepared to wait for a long, long time for what I need, and this year I acquired Douglas to keep Billy Waters company.
The Victoria and Albert Museum's figure has a companion figure titled Douglas. I am a patient collector and am prepared to wait for a long, long time for what I need, and this year I acquired Douglas to keep Billy Waters company.
So who was Douglas? Douglas was a character in a play called Douglas written by John Home and first performed in 1756--and it remained popular into the nineteenth century. This tragedy, based on a Scottish ballad, tells of Lady Randolph, who secretly mourns Lord Douglas, her husband by a prior clandestine marriage, and their baby that she had abandoned. The baby is raised by a shepherd called Norval, and the child takes the name Young Norval. As the plot unfolds, Lady Randolph is reunited with Young Norval, who claims his father's name and becomes Douglas.
In the manner of its time, Douglas was sometimes performed on stage on the same evening as Life in London featuring Waters. Audiences might see both Douglas and Billy Waters for the same admission, so that explains this seemingly odd pairing. But I believe ignorance rather than a potter’s quirk accounts for Douglas’s peg leg!
In the manner of its time, Douglas was sometimes performed on stage on the same evening as Life in London featuring Waters. Audiences might see both Douglas and Billy Waters for the same admission, so that explains this seemingly odd pairing. But I believe ignorance rather than a potter’s quirk accounts for Douglas’s peg leg!
My joy at completing this pair is tinged with sorrow because Douglas was formerly in the amazing collection of the late Herbert and Nancy Hunt. Both Herbert and Nancy are missed by all who loved them, but I know that they would be thrilled to know that their figure of Douglas is treasured.
The Hunt Collection is large, and it holds stunning figures at every price point. I am helping guide these figures to their new homes, so if you are interested please email me. [email protected]
The Hunt Collection is large, and it holds stunning figures at every price point. I am helping guide these figures to their new homes, so if you are interested please email me. [email protected]
