Born and raised in Africa, I love the feeling of warm earth beneath my bare feet, so even as the mercury rises to all-time highs in North Carolina, I don't long for winter. But Staffordshire figures of Winter are another story. Yes, we are all familiar with a portly man wearing skates, surely the most common portrayal of the Winter season. But far, far nicer is this lady wearing a coat with a huge fur collar, currently on Aurea Carter's site.
The figure is after an early nineteenth century print, which you see here applied to glass.
The lady in the print wears skates, but the earthenware lady never has skates. This figure is 9", so it has Presence. Of course, it is part of a set of figures emblematic of the four seasons. I know of only one complete set, and you can see it in all its glory in my book. Here is Winter from that set.
This figure of Winter, like the others in the set, is marked WALTON. I know of two other Walton seasons. These are odd figures. I don't know of another set. The first time I saw this set, it resided in the home of a charming older gentleman, who lived alone. I went into the bathroom to see the figures. One sat on each corner of the bathtub. It was time to pray to the Pottery God for their survival! Clearly, that has worked for the figures are still with us.
Figures of the Seasons on this scale occur on sundry other bases. I am not at all certain that John Walton made any of the unmarked examples. In fact, I bet they were made by other potters. The figures occur in underglaze colors and enamels, just to deepen the attribution mystery--in fact, I think Aurea's figure is underglaze. I thought you might like to see these two examples in my archive, courtesy of Elinor Penna.
Figures of the Seasons on this scale occur on sundry other bases. I am not at all certain that John Walton made any of the unmarked examples. In fact, I bet they were made by other potters. The figures occur in underglaze colors and enamels, just to deepen the attribution mystery--in fact, I think Aurea's figure is underglaze. I thought you might like to see these two examples in my archive, courtesy of Elinor Penna.
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My archive is large, and it has taken a long time to build....so please don't think figures like this grow on trees. They are rather uncommon. Sometimes you will find a pair, which probably results from a collector having made the happy match.
Notice that the two figures above and Aurea's figure all have a low scroll-type structure behind them. Its not quite a bocage, but I am not sure what to call it. I have only ever seen this on figures of Seasons. It occurs on one example of the gentleman-on-skates, the common figure of Winter that we all know best. In all other instances, it is on the lovely large ladies that accompany our lady with the large fur collar. In one instance, it is on a figure of Spring marked Walton.
Notice that the two figures above and Aurea's figure all have a low scroll-type structure behind them. Its not quite a bocage, but I am not sure what to call it. I have only ever seen this on figures of Seasons. It occurs on one example of the gentleman-on-skates, the common figure of Winter that we all know best. In all other instances, it is on the lovely large ladies that accompany our lady with the large fur collar. In one instance, it is on a figure of Spring marked Walton.
If all this is too much information, hang in there just a moment longer. To bring us full circle, I want to show you another figure of Spring. This example, from the stock of Elinor Penna, is on the same lovely base as Aurea's figure of Winter.
Enjoy the heat, while it lasts. And if you like winter, grab Aurea's figure, while it lasts!
