Pair of large and rare Staffordshire Spaniels, c. 1840.
View Similar Items
Pair of large and rare Staffordshire Spaniels, c. 1840.
About the Item
- Creator:Staffordshire (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 12.21 in (31 cm)Width: 9.65 in (24.5 cm)Depth: 7.29 in (18.5 cm)
- Style:Victorian (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Pottery,Fired
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1840
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Gargrave, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU4397135240482
Staffordshire
Thanks to its reserves of clay, lead, salt and coal, Staffordshire, England, has been a center for ceramics since the early 17th century. The county was home at one time to hundreds of pottery workshops and as many as 4,000 bottle-shaped kilns that operated year-round. The term “Staffordshire Potteries” refers to the industrial area of Stoke-on-Trent — comprising the towns Burslem, Fenton, Hanley, Longton, Stoke and Tunstall — where most of the production was concentrated.
In 1720, potter John Astbury discovered that he could make what would later be called creamware by adding ground flint powder to the local red clay. Because resources were so plentiful in Staffordshire, local potters could afford to experiment, working to refine their techniques and designs. One such innovator was Thomas Whieldon, an important 18th-century potter known today for his tortoiseshell ware, whose brilliant glazed surface of caramel, yellow and green hues was made with copper and manganese compounds. Whieldon operated the Fenton Low workshop, making coffee- and teapots, dinner services and even ornamental knife hafts. He was an influential figure: Josiah Spode apprenticed at the workshop, and Josiah Wedgwood partnered with Whieldon for five years before establishing his eponymous firm in 1759.
Wedgwood is perhaps the best known of the Staffordshire potters. The firm produced a line of light-colored earthenware for Queen Charlotte, who liked it so much that she granted permission to market it under the moniker Queen’s Ware, which despite the name, was designed for everyday use. In the same regal vein, in 1773, Wedgwood created the 954-piece Frog service for Catherine the Great, of Russia. The company is also known for its black stoneware, Black Basalt, which imitates the color and shapes of Etruscan vases; Jasperware, with its classical reliefs applied on the unglazed body; and pearlware.
By the end of the 18th century, Staffordshire was the primary producer of ceramics for the American colonies, even creating patriotic wares celebrating independence for this market. The imagery on Staffordshire ceramics became more standardized the mid-18th century with the advent of transferware, in which a design etched on a copper plate is printed on tissue paper, which is then used to transfer the wet ink onto the ceramic surface. This technique enabled artisans to decorate their wares with complex scenes that wrapped around an object’s surface and make several copies of popular patterns.
The Staffordshire potters also produced decorative figurines, such as this charming pair of cows dating from the 19th century. Particularly popular in Great Britain were pieces with hunting imagery, such as this George IV porcelain stirrup cup in the shape of a fox head wearing a gilt collar inscribed with the word “Tallyho.” Among the many whimsical vessels produced is this mid-19th-century frog mug. The exterior is painted with a charming scene of people picking fruit on one side and ladies on a garden swing on the other side, while inside a molded frog’s head at the bottom of the mug makes a gurgling sound when the the beverage has been almost completely consumed.
- Pair Staffordshire pottery Basket of Flowers Spaniels, c. 1860.By StaffordshireLocated in Gargrave, North YorkshirePair of Staffordshire pottery ‘Basket of Flowers’ Spaniels, c. 1860. Both dogs painted with yellow eyes, and having large liver red spots to their bodies. They carry large, yellow ba...Category
Antique 1860s English Victorian Pottery
MaterialsPottery
- Pair Staffordshire pottery cats, c. 1850.By StaffordshireLocated in Gargrave, North YorkshireRare and fine pair of Staffordshire pottery cats, c. 1850. The recumbent cats, painted with large underglaze black spots, and having yellow eyes. Set upon underglaze cobalt blue oval...Category
Antique 1850s English Victorian Pottery
MaterialsPottery
- Pair Staffordshire ‘Pointer’ Spill Vases, c. 1870By StaffordshireLocated in Gargrave, North YorkshirePair of Staffordshire pottery spill vases, c. 1870. Well modelled as two Pointers, stood before tree trunks, forming the spill vases. The dogs, painted with black spots, and set upon...Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Pottery
MaterialsEarthenware
- Staffordshire pottery recumbent cat, c. 1850.By StaffordshireLocated in Gargrave, North YorkshireRare and fine Staffordshire pottery cat, c. 1850. The recumbent cat, painted with large underglaze black spots, and having yellow eyes. Set upon an underglaze cobalt blue base, with ...Category
Antique 1850s English Victorian Pottery
MaterialsPottery
- Staffordshire pottery Foxes watch holder, c. 1860.By StaffordshireLocated in Gargrave, North YorkshireStaffordshire pottery watch holder, c. 1860. Modelled as two foxes, seated either side of the watch holder, with a further fox, with its catch, stood above the watch holder. Coloured...Category
Antique 1860s English Victorian Pottery
MaterialsPottery
- Staffordshire pottery bocage group, ‘Hairdresser’, c. 1820.By StaffordshireLocated in Gargrave, North YorkshireStaffordshire pottery bocage group of large size, ‘Hairdresser’, c. 1820. The very well modelled group, depicting a man curing the hair of a seated lady, whilst she looks in a hand m...Category
Antique 1820s English Georgian Pottery
MaterialsPottery
- Pair of Diminutive Red Staffordshire Spaniels, circa 1860By StaffordshireLocated in West Palm Beach, FLPair of diminutive red Staffordshire Spaniels, circa 1860, Each one exceptionally painted with expressive faces.Category
Antique 19th Century English High Victorian Animal Sculptures
MaterialsPottery
$556 Sale Price / set20% Off - Pair of Diminutive Antique Staffordshire Black & White Seated Spaniels, C. 1860sBy StaffordshireLocated in West Palm Beach, FLPair of Diminutive Antique Staffordshire black & white seated Spaniels, C. 1860s England, Circa 1860s A good pair of antique black and white Staffordshire...Category
Antique Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Animal Sculptures
MaterialsPottery
$380 Sale Price / set20% Off - Staffordshire Pearlware Bocage Pack of Red Spaniel Puppies/ SheepBy StaffordshireLocated in West Palm Beach, FLStaffordshire Pearlware bocage pack of red spaniel puppies or sheep- A rare whimsical grouping of three seated red and white animals under a tree on an oval naturalistic base.Category
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Pottery
MaterialsPottery
$1,516 Sale Price20% Off - 19th Century Staffordshire Figurines of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert 'Large'By StaffordshireLocated in West Palm Beach, FL19th century Staffordshire Figurines of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert (Large) England, circa 1860 Offering a rare find, this pair of 19th-century Staffordshire Figures portrays t...Category
Antique 19th Century English High Victorian Pottery
MaterialsPottery
$1,160 Sale Price20% Off - Staffordshire English Pottery Figure of a Girl with a Large SheepBy StaffordshireLocated in Bishop's Stortford, HertfordshireA fine and scarce antique English Staffordshire figure of a girl with a very large sheep dating from the mid 19th century. The figure stands on molded rock...Category
Antique Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Animal Sculptures
MaterialsPottery
- Pair of 19th Century Staffordshire Figures of Recumbent SheepBy StaffordshireLocated in West Palm Beach, FLPair of 19th century Staffordshire figures of Recumbent Sheep. England, circa 1860s. A diminutive pair of expressive pair of Staffordshire pottery sheep with textured bodies. Som...Category
Antique 19th Century English High Victorian Pottery
MaterialsPottery
$476 Sale Price20% Off