A truly superb and very rare pair of figures depicting an elderly gentleman and an elderly lady sitting at their respective tables. Another version of this pair (less fine, it must be said) are titled ‘Old Bachelor’ and ‘Old Maid’.
The balding gentleman reclines in a fine chair pouring himself a cup of tea from a teapot in his right hand. A teacup and saucer await the pour on a covered square table topped with cobalt, orange and magenta. He wears a fine long cobalt coat and green trousers. The index finger of his left hand is held to his chin. The lady wears a mop cap, cobalt bodice and long mustard skirt. A bird perches on her right shoulder and she holds her right hand up to it as if to stroke its feathers. Beside her is a round covered table with a cobalt top and orange fabric, and atop of the table is a white and gilt cushion on which a little black and white cat is sitting. She holds out a saucer to the cat with her left hand. Each scene is modelled on interestingly shaped bases with cobalt details.
These two figures - full of intrigue, humour, and complexity - are exquisite in their quality. The details on every element are sublime - the characters' faces, their clothing, the gentleman’s hair, the draped fabrics, the independently modelled accoutrements of their daily lives - exceptionally fine and detailed for Staffordshire figures of this period. The colouring and decoration are also fantastic - real care has been put into the flesh tones and creating a vibrant, ‘lived in’ scene.
They are among my very favourite Victorian Staffordshire figures.
They display excellently and are in very good condition, with some modest imperfections. The rim of the gentleman’s tea cup has some old nibbles to it, and there is a small, discreet stress hairline where his finger joins his chin. There is a faint firing flaw behind his table, but this is largely inconsequential. There is some flaking to parts of the figure including his trousers and the magenta of the table. The lady is practically perfect, though the glaze over the cobalt on her left arm has crackled a little behind the saucer and there is some light rubbing to the gilt. I cannot detect any repair or restoration though there may some retouching of enamels.
An astonishingly good pair of figures.
Reference: A. & N. Harding, Victorian Staffordshire Figures 1835 - 1875: Book Two, p. 295, figs 3332 and 3331
Height: 7”
Date: c. 1840
A truly superb and very rare pair of figures depicting an elderly gentleman and an elderly lady sitting at their respective tables. Another version of this pair (less fine, it must be said) are titled ‘Old Bachelor’ and ‘Old Maid’.
The balding gentleman reclines in a fine chair pouring himself a cup of tea from a teapot in his right hand. A teacup and saucer await the pour on a covered square table topped with cobalt, orange and magenta. He wears a fine long cobalt coat and green trousers. The index finger of his left hand is held to his chin. The lady wears a mop cap, cobalt bodice and long mustard skirt. A bird perches on her right shoulder and she holds her right hand up to it as if to stroke its feathers. Beside her is a round covered table with a cobalt top and orange fabric, and atop of the table is a white and gilt cushion on which a little black and white cat is sitting. She holds out a saucer to the cat with her left hand. Each scene is modelled on interestingly shaped bases with cobalt details.
These two figures - full of intrigue, humour, and complexity - are exquisite in their quality. The details on every element are sublime - the characters' faces, their clothing, the gentleman’s hair, the draped fabrics, the independently modelled accoutrements of their daily lives - exceptionally fine and detailed for Staffordshire figures of this period. The colouring and decoration are also fantastic - real care has been put into the flesh tones and creating a vibrant, ‘lived in’ scene.
They are among my very favourite Victorian Staffordshire figures.
They display excellently and are in very good condition, with some modest imperfections. The rim of the gentleman’s tea cup has some old nibbles to it, and there is a small, discreet stress hairline where his finger joins his chin. There is a faint firing flaw behind his table, but this is largely inconsequential. There is some flaking to parts of the figure including his trousers and the magenta of the table. The lady is practically perfect, though the glaze over the cobalt on her left arm has crackled a little behind the saucer and there is some light rubbing to the gilt. I cannot detect any repair or restoration though there may some retouching of enamels.
An astonishingly good pair of figures.
Reference: A. & N. Harding, Victorian Staffordshire Figures 1835 - 1875: Book Two, p. 295, figs 3332 and 3331
Height: 7”
Date: c. 1840
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