A colourful, heavy earthenware figure depicting the Italian patriot and soldier Giuseppe Garibaldi.
He stands wearing a red shirt and black knee boots. A sword is scabbarded by his left leg and he holds a flowing banner in his right hand with (ostensibly) the word ‘Liberté’ written on it.
The figure is unusual in that it has been made with a very thick clay body, making it very heavy for its size. The decoration is simple yet effective. The painter has rather lost the thread of the ‘Liberté’ title on the banner and instead it seems to read ‘LIBBITL’. Although the lettering is raised on the body of the figure it seems that the mould has worn down before this particular figure was produced, and the inconsistency is likely a reflection of the illiteracy of the painter.
Garibaldi’s volunteer revolutionary soldiers were known as ‘Redshirts’, but contemporary Staffordshire figures of Garibaldi are usually decorated with orange shirts, as red - particularly bright red - was a difficult colour for the enamellers to produce. This figure’s tunic is decorated with a burgundy colour, indicating it may have been produced later than the first figures of this form which date to approximately 1864.
It is offered in decent, complete condition though there is some superficial wear to Garibaldi’s nose. The painting of the face is not especially fine and some of the magenta from his shirt has been applied to the forehead and cheeks (giving Garibaldi a rather ‘flushes’ look), but it is the original decoration with all its quirks and naivety.
Reference: P. D. Gordon Pugh, Staffordshire Portrait Figures, p. C302, pl. 98, fig. 284
Height: 9.75”
Date: c. 1870s
A colourful, heavy earthenware figure depicting the Italian patriot and soldier Giuseppe Garibaldi.
He stands wearing a red shirt and black knee boots. A sword is scabbarded by his left leg and he holds a flowing banner in his right hand with (ostensibly) the word ‘Liberté’ written on it.
The figure is unusual in that it has been made with a very thick clay body, making it very heavy for its size. The decoration is simple yet effective. The painter has rather lost the thread of the ‘Liberté’ title on the banner and instead it seems to read ‘LIBBITL’. Although the lettering is raised on the body of the figure it seems that the mould has worn down before this particular figure was produced, and the inconsistency is likely a reflection of the illiteracy of the painter.
Garibaldi’s volunteer revolutionary soldiers were known as ‘Redshirts’, but contemporary Staffordshire figures of Garibaldi are usually decorated with orange shirts, as red - particularly bright red - was a difficult colour for the enamellers to produce. This figure’s tunic is decorated with a burgundy colour, indicating it may have been produced later than the first figures of this form which date to approximately 1864.
It is offered in decent, complete condition though there is some superficial wear to Garibaldi’s nose. The painting of the face is not especially fine and some of the magenta from his shirt has been applied to the forehead and cheeks (giving Garibaldi a rather ‘flushes’ look), but it is the original decoration with all its quirks and naivety.
Reference: P. D. Gordon Pugh, Staffordshire Portrait Figures, p. C302, pl. 98, fig. 284
Height: 9.75”
Date: c. 1870s
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