Staffordshire Figures a Short History

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Staffordshire figures a short history.

Just north of Birmingham is Stoke on Trent. Back in Victorian times there were six towns all producing pottery, they were Burslem, Fenton, Hanley, Longton, Stoke and Tunstall, today they are all known as Stoke on Trent.

Back in the late 18th century they were producing wonderful pottery, Josiah Wedgewood was based at Etruria, and he produced some of the most wonderful creamware and fine china. Pottery was also made in Leeds, and Worcester. The six pottery towns in the Victorian times would have appalled anyone today. They employed children as young as 5 years old. The pollution was extreme as the large bottle ovens were fired. Workers lived in terrace houses near the potteries. There was no escape from the dull skies full of smoke and the pollution. I wonder what life expectancy was? No long I would guess.

The Staffordshire figures are part of the production of the Victorian era. They were cheap and cheerful pieces of china with fronts only (although there is one in the round, Neptune 1835) for putting in the one room in the house that might have a mantelpiece. They were often gifted at fairs, prizes for games. They represent a wonderful cross section of Victorian society; generals, princes, duchesses, highwaymen, farm girls, sheep, cows, horses, charming couples in bowers, Little Red Riding Hood, Louis Napoleon, Lord Kitchener, cats, dogs, spaniels being the most famous, houses, zebras, parrots, swans, they plucked subject matter from everywhere.

They were often randomly painted; it depended on the skill of the artist. Some were beautifully delicately painted with gold and cleverly decorated. Some were left white.

They have an endearing charm, their value is that they are part of our history, they have endearing charm and people lived and died to make them.

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Reference:

Staffordshire Figures, Frances BryanT

Creamware, Donald Towner

The Leeds Pottery, Donald Towner

English Pottery 1620 -1840 Robin Hildyard