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AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



December, 1 9 1 3 



HE average collector rarely turns his atten- his jug. Few of the earliest pieces show artistic design, 

 tion to cottage figures exclusively, yet there They are crude bits, valued for age rather than beauty, and 

 can be no more interesting subject. The are rarely seen save in Museums. They are coarse bits of 



quaint, odd little pieces rep 

 resent a peculiar feature in 

 the ceramic world that is not 

 only historic, but unique. They represent 

 stages of design that covered almost every 

 subject, ranging from the simple, crude 

 pieces up through the evolution of potters 

 to the dainty, well-designed bits of the best 

 masters. 



Thirty years ago one rarely found them 

 save in the rambling cottages in England or 

 in the quaint old inns. Here they stood 

 on the mantel and dresser, depicting un- 

 usual things. The central piece was gen- 

 erally a representation of a castle, framing 

 a clock or watch and flanked on either side 

 by highly colored animals. These were 

 family heirlooms, and as such were greatly 

 prized. 



In the old inns the "Toby" was the most 



prominent, being used for beer; the squatty 



china man sitting or standing held always A bust of Shakespeare in old Staf 



fordshire ware. These busts, some- 

 what crudely modeled, and having none of the beauty of Chelsea, 

 Derby or Bow, are reminiscent of Neopolitan maiolica ware 



pottery often covered by slip and decorated 

 afterwards, not hard to distinguish, being 

 a direct line by themselves. Often they are 

 dark blue in coloring, sometimes green and 

 red combined. The earlier ones have an 

 underglazed pigment. They show manga- 

 nese, copper green, yellowish orange, brown 

 and black, and sometimes a low tone that 

 is obtained by the mixing of several colors 

 together. 



These early pieces, notwithstanding their 

 lack of artistic development, are interesting 

 pieces in the history of ceramics, and they 

 are much sought by collectors. 



The earliest maker of the Staffordshire 

 ware, more especially cottage ornaments, 

 was Ralph Wood. He was the first to pro- 

 duce signed pieces. Living from 17 16 to 

 1772, he did more to advance the vogue 

 for cottage figures than any other maker. 

 "Old Age" was a favorite subject of his, as 

 was the "Beggar leaning on his sticks." 



Staffordshire "Highlander' 



Staffordshire cottage figures, 1810 



Staffordshire "Scotchman" 



