Early Earthenware Figure, unknown maker, possibly 1800-1820 -ref aug95

Early Earthenware Figure, unknown maker, possibly 1800-1820 -
ref. aug95

I have absolutely no idea as to the true age of this figure. I am estimating her age to be around the 1800 - 1820 period based on the rather simplistic and naive modelling and painting. I am pretty convinced it is not a Staffordshire Pottery figurine based on the fact that the style appears to be totally wrong.  There are none of those hard blue cobalt colors that the Staffordshire Pottery company seemed to adore, and, looking at countless Staffordshire pieces on the web, I have not found anything similar to her. Which does make me pleased, as there are literally hundreds and hundreds of Staffordshire figures available. No, this girl is from somewhere else in Britain.

Early figures were made by many different potters and factories and rarely signed. They were made from a simple process of pressing thin sheets of clay into a two-piece mold and allowing them to dry.  Once dry, they were joined by a futher thin layer of clay.  Consequently, like the figure above, these seams can be seen down the sides. The base was then covered and a small hole inserted so as to allow air and moisture to escape during the firing.  Later figurines - from around the 1860's were usually made from a liquid 'slip' in a single mold which eliminated the seam.
After firing, (and this would have been in a kiln heated usually by coal) the figure was painted with an underglaze (white, in the case of the above) and then dipped into a liquid glaze and re-fired. Once cooled, the figure was again painted with enamel colors and re-glazed  at a lower temperature.
OK, so why do I think this is an early piece?  Well, the simplistic design, the  evidence of seam lines, the rather watery-looking colors of yellow, green and pale browns which were typical of those days, the fact that this is  overpainted on the white glaze, the thickness of the glaze and the two 'lumps'of thick glaze which can be seen on the back of the figure.  Glazing, in that era, was a bit  'hit and miss'  affair, it was yet to be perfected.  Consequently, the glaze shows up with a number of imperfections, small 'blow' holes, lots of 'black' spots (this would have been from the coal dust when fired), and the evidence that it was made of earthernware clay base (porcelain had not been invented).

Looking at the costume, she could have been a Scottish maiden, I am basing this on the 'tartan' design.
She is carrying, what looks like a basket of berries with her right hand and is holding something up to her face with her left hand. Partially painted to the back, she shows none of the more vivid colors of the 1860-1880's era.  Not too much care was taken with the painting (children were often employed to do this task) and the base shows  some black splodges, evidently from spilled black paint.

She stands a good 21 cm high and weighs 470 grams and 10.5 cm wide at the arms. There are no chips, cracks or damage of any kind.  All in all, she is an extremely interesting piece. And, if anyone out there can shed any information on her, I would really appreciate to hear it.

This is a genuine antique. Please remember the classification of an 'antique' is that it should be 100 years old, OR MORE. There are many articles being offered as 'antiques' when, clearly, they are not.

Price R480.00
Post R60.00 

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