A handsome and unusually well-coloured spill vase depicting the Scottish poet Robert Burns and his paramour ‘Highland’ Mary Campbell with whom he had a brief illicit relationship in 1786.
Burns felt deserted by his wife, Jean Armour, following her relocation to Paisley. He had met Campbell at church in Tarbolton and the two began a short-lived relationship in which it is believed that they exchanged traditional Scots marriage vows (although they were never legally married). Campbell was known as ‘Highland Mary’ due to her unusual lilting accent and the incorporation of Gaelic dialect in her speech (which was not common in Ayrshire). Burns wrote several poets dedicated to Campbell including The Highland Lassie O and Highland Mary. It is believed that the two planned to emigrate to Jamaica together but Campbell died in Greenock later in 1786 at the age of only 22 or 23.
The Staffordshire potters produced many known figures of Robert Burns and a number of these depict him together with ‘Highland Mary’. This particular spill vase was made by the potter Sampson Smith and includes the title ‘BURNS AND HIS MARY’ in raised gilt capitals.
Importantly, the vast majority of these spill vases are sparsely coloured but this is a less common full-colour version making it more desirable than those most frequently found.
The figure displays very well and is in generally good condition. The left-most head of wheat has been reattached. There is some flaking to overglaze black features (hair and shoes) and some evidence of retouching. There is a spot of wear on Burns’ nose.
Reference: P. D. Gordon Pugh, Staffordshire Portrait Figures, p. H578, pl. 12, fig. 47
Height: 12”
Date: c. 1851
A handsome and unusually well-coloured spill vase depicting the Scottish poet Robert Burns and his paramour ‘Highland’ Mary Campbell with whom he had a brief illicit relationship in 1786.
Burns felt deserted by his wife, Jean Armour, following her relocation to Paisley. He had met Campbell at church in Tarbolton and the two began a short-lived relationship in which it is believed that they exchanged traditional Scots marriage vows (although they were never legally married). Campbell was known as ‘Highland Mary’ due to her unusual lilting accent and the incorporation of Gaelic dialect in her speech (which was not common in Ayrshire). Burns wrote several poets dedicated to Campbell including The Highland Lassie O and Highland Mary. It is believed that the two planned to emigrate to Jamaica together but Campbell died in Greenock later in 1786 at the age of only 22 or 23.
The Staffordshire potters produced many known figures of Robert Burns and a number of these depict him together with ‘Highland Mary’. This particular spill vase was made by the potter Sampson Smith and includes the title ‘BURNS AND HIS MARY’ in raised gilt capitals.
Importantly, the vast majority of these spill vases are sparsely coloured but this is a less common full-colour version making it more desirable than those most frequently found.
The figure displays very well and is in generally good condition. The left-most head of wheat has been reattached. There is some flaking to overglaze black features (hair and shoes) and some evidence of retouching. There is a spot of wear on Burns’ nose.
Reference: P. D. Gordon Pugh, Staffordshire Portrait Figures, p. H578, pl. 12, fig. 47
Height: 12”
Date: c. 1851
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