An appealing titled figure of theatrical interest depicting the legendary Swiss folk her William Tell standing with his young son.
Tell wears a cobalt blue tunic, green leggings, an orange and peach cape, and a plumed hat. His tunic and cape are tied with gilt rope. This son wears a simple cobalt blue tunic and green hat. His son holds an apple in his right hand. The title of the figure - ‘William Tell - is written in attractive gilt cursive script on the base with gilt motifs on either side.
An alternative version of this figure is practically indistinguishable but for its height and the fact that Tell’s son has the apple on his head. That version is very rare to find.
The figure presents very well and is in reasonably good condition. A small stress crack is behind Tell’s right foot. There is some light wear to the tip of Tell’s nose and to the apple. A large flake which went through the slip has been overpainted on the cape beneath the right side of Tell’s neck, and there is similar overpainting to a small gash on the back of the figure and another to the left side of Tell’s hair. Despite these flaws and touch-ups, the figure remains very attractive and makes for a lovely addition to a theatrical figure collection.
Reference: P. D. Gordon Pugh, Staffordshire Portrait Figures, p. I609, pl. 7, fig. 18
Height: 10.25”
Date: c. 1860
Provenance: A substantial, high-quality private collection, name unknown. (The former owner’s reference label has been left attached should the buyer be able to identify other figures from the same collection.)
An appealing titled figure of theatrical interest depicting the legendary Swiss folk her William Tell standing with his young son.
Tell wears a cobalt blue tunic, green leggings, an orange and peach cape, and a plumed hat. His tunic and cape are tied with gilt rope. This son wears a simple cobalt blue tunic and green hat. His son holds an apple in his right hand. The title of the figure - ‘William Tell - is written in attractive gilt cursive script on the base with gilt motifs on either side.
An alternative version of this figure is practically indistinguishable but for its height and the fact that Tell’s son has the apple on his head. That version is very rare to find.
The figure presents very well and is in reasonably good condition. A small stress crack is behind Tell’s right foot. There is some light wear to the tip of Tell’s nose and to the apple. A large flake which went through the slip has been overpainted on the cape beneath the right side of Tell’s neck, and there is similar overpainting to a small gash on the back of the figure and another to the left side of Tell’s hair. Despite these flaws and touch-ups, the figure remains very attractive and makes for a lovely addition to a theatrical figure collection.
Reference: P. D. Gordon Pugh, Staffordshire Portrait Figures, p. I609, pl. 7, fig. 18
Height: 10.25”
Date: c. 1860
Provenance: A substantial, high-quality private collection, name unknown. (The former owner’s reference label has been left attached should the buyer be able to identify other figures from the same collection.)
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