These are rarer and more unusual Staffordshire figurines.
They are slip cast in white - and finished with details picked out with gold gilt.
The figures represent the Victorian politician, William Ewart Gladstone and his wife.
They are both on fairly good antique condition - they have no chips or cracks - and the only issues affecting condition is a bit of craquelure to the glaze here and there - the most pronounced on top of the heads of each figure (as photographed). But rest assured this is not seen on display - and they look pretty good.
They are very collectable and great additions to your collection of ceramics relating to British Political history.
Mrs Gladstone (has raised capitals on the base) is 10 1/2 inches in height. She is shown standing, wearing a cap and holds a fan in her left hand. She is illustrated in P.D. Gordon Pugh's book "Staffordshire Portrait Figures of the Victorian Era". Section B195, Plate 12, Fig 39.
Prime Minister Gladstone features on Section B195, Plate 13, Figure 40. He is slightly taller at 10 34 inches. Again, a cast figure.
Cast Staffordshire figures are much rarer - often confined to more complicated figures or those to be released as white Parian - or images of contemporary historical figures. There are hardly any produced using this means on record. To produce a figure liquid clay would be poured into a plaster mould and the plaster would absorb the excess water. Cast figures are usually left with open bottoms (as shown in my photographs here). The disadvantage of using a casting method to produce these figurines is that often the working mould deteriorated and production was often limited to only 20 figures. A more popular figure would require the product of lots more "working moulds".
So a very interesting pair of figures - which have always been much sought after. Listed here at a very fair price.
In good condition.
Postage quoted here is for Special Next Day Delivery with the Royal Mail.
HAPPY TO POST INTERNATIONALLY, PLEASE ASK FOR A POSTAGE QUOTE OUTSIDE OF THE UK.