This is an interesting Scottish figurine or little handmade sculpture. It was made at Coll Pottery based on the Isle of Lewis in the late 1960s / early 1970s.
These early pieces of vintage Coll studio pottery made on the Scottish Islands are now highly collectable. This signed example even more so!
These quirky figurines depicting local life and customs were made by Marjory Maclellan, who made a variety of stylized clay figures to capture the heritage of life on the islands which was gradually dying out. She was probably looking at much earlier East Coast Potteries such as Prestonpans for her initial inspiration. The figurine is rather naive and his adds to Coll Pottery charm.
This one is signed MML 1976 on the reverse of the figure (as photographed).
This lady peat gatherer is a free-standing one and seems to be a hand-modelled clay pottery example made by Ms Maclellan herself (and as mentioned signed with her monogram). Later ones seem to have been taken from moulds. Hence the price assigned to this one - it is unique!
My peat gatherer wears a dark chocolate brown long dress with a lighter cream-coloured apron. The figurine has a dark green coloured belt or sash around her waist, a brown tunic. The lady's hair is white and tied in a bun.
The figurine comes complete with an original piece of dried-up peat in her basket or creel carried on her back (the peat is often missing). The basket is made from ceramic - the rope is a textile one.
The height is 8 inches. The diameter of the base is 2 ¾ inches. Unpacked it is 800 grams.
In very good condition with no damage.
UK Postage will be Royal Mail Small Parcel Signed For. This will be applied to your order at the checkout stage of your order.