This is a fine antique pottery figurine that was made towards the end of the 19th century. There is debate as to whether these were made at a Scottish East Coast Pottery - or a Staffordshire Pottery - but they are certainly quite stunning in design, detail and colouring. For the moment - I am popping them under my Staffordshire heading.
My Victorian figurine features a pair of Scottish Newhaven fishwives who are shown in their traditional costumes. They have heavy, striped petticoats and blue and green overdresses which are hitched up. They wear long scarves around their heads. I love the blue and orange stripes on the scarf of the lady to the left. They stand on a grassy bank with a bucket or basket at their side to keep their fish in. The basket is brown in colour and has a bright yellow rope on the side. There are little pieces of bocage (perhaps representing seaweed) on the ground in front of them.
Always an attractive and much sought-after subject. This model is harder to find, as reflected in my asking price.
This figurine is in good antique condition. It dates to the 1860s / 1880s. It is a genuine antique piece - and most definitely NOT a later reproduction.
It has no chips or cracks - there is minor and very fine craquelure to the glaze on close-up inspection - this is not disfiguring but is commensurate with age. You can see this close-up and is commensurate with antique figurines of this date. There is a little firing crack behind the figure on the right. This starts just below where her striped petticoat meets with the ground - and it is only on the back (as photographed). This is a crack made in the creation of the model when the clay dried and caused a little fissure.
My little figurine is slightly larger size one - it is 9 3/4 inches in height and at the widest point it is 7 1/2 inches. The depth is 3 inches.
This is certainly a very fine model - and displays so well. It would look great in a cottage window in a wee fishing village.
UK POSTING ONLY - this will be £10 for Royal Mail Recorded Delivery. This will be applied at check-out.