Staffordshire figures portraying classical figures are endlessly fascinating, but they can also be rather perplexing. Case in point are these two pearlware beauties, the only known examples of their kind. Both are around 13 inches tall, and the silver luster is quite exquisite.
 Courtesy the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. |  Courtesy the Hunt Collection. |
But for the silver luster, I might have dated these figures to around 1800, but as silver lustering was only adopted commercially from 1805, I suspect these figures were made around 1805 or shortly after. They depict Calliope, the muse of epic poetry. The title on the spine of each book confirms this--- "OVID VOL 4" in one case and "OVID Vol 5" in the other.
Simple enough so far isn't it? But the plot thickens. The stunningly impressive and unique figure below is almost 15 inches tall. She has changed hands through time described as Metis, who was the goddess of deep thought and wisdom. As the ancients believed Metis to be the wisest of all beings, it is appropriate that she has a large book at her side.
Simple enough so far isn't it? But the plot thickens. The stunningly impressive and unique figure below is almost 15 inches tall. She has changed hands through time described as Metis, who was the goddess of deep thought and wisdom. As the ancients believed Metis to be the wisest of all beings, it is appropriate that she has a large book at her side.
Courtesy the Collection of Arnold and Barbara Berlin.
Although there are resemblances between the figures of Metis and Calliope, when I wrote Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840, Volume 4, I included separate chapters for each of the ladies.......but, given their similarities, I now wonder whether the figure of Metis above is Calliope rather than Metis!
What of other figures on the subject? My Volume 4 describes the sweet figure bellow as Metis. She is only 6 inches tall and can be attributed to the Brown Base Group The owner had always thought her to be Metis, and perhaps she is...but I can't help noticing that she is pointing to her tome in much the same manner as the figures of Calliope do. Is she not Calliope too?
What of other figures on the subject? My Volume 4 describes the sweet figure bellow as Metis. She is only 6 inches tall and can be attributed to the Brown Base Group The owner had always thought her to be Metis, and perhaps she is...but I can't help noticing that she is pointing to her tome in much the same manner as the figures of Calliope do. Is she not Calliope too?
I recently noted this small figure on the same theme that went through auction. She too is pointing at her book, so I suspect she too is Calliope.
Courtesy Bonhams
I haven't located an ancient statue of either lady that resembles any of these figures closely enough to have been its design source, so I am fumbling in the dark on this one. If only the figures were titled! But, with hindsight, if I were to do my books again (perish the thought!!), I would probably call ALL these ladies Calliope. In the year 2020, hindsight is 2020.
