The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-14
QUAINT OLD CHINA FIGURES.
COTTAGE ORNAMENTS As 4
FIELD FOR COLLECTORS.

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There are many persons who would be
glad 70 interest themselves In collecting
II they knew something which could be
easily housed. would not take too much
money TO buy and could be acquired with
reasonable ease. Cottage ornaments a.
they were called. all these requirements,
and a. many Of, them commemorate events
Of Importance IN England, or have other
historical associations, they mako N In
teresting study.
These small orna ments were made by
the early potters TO servo 40 mantel deco
~rations. Figures Of great value and beauty
were put out by such famous potteries -
Bow, Derby, Chelsea and Plymouth, and
from the German, French and Copcnhago n
factories as we'll, but IL 10 with the Stafford
shire objects, which sold for a few shillings,
hat this article will deal.
Many Of the figures represent homely;
everyday subjects, and when In pairs II
ia common TO ave q mar and a woman,
like she shepherdess and shepherd. the
cobbler and his dame, . hunter and q
huntress. These were made in the old
zone paste. which was Of a creamy color,
light in weight and generally sparingly
colored.
Dark blue, the shade common on the
old Stafordshire wares, was repeated on
the figures, and the hair and eyes were,
touched in with brown or black. They are
crude, both as to workmanship and color,
but attractive, and as you hold n In your
hand, feel the satiny paste and note that
the bottom is worn smooth with frequent
movinge you do not mind that the color 10
glaring and small in amount, but only
thank your stars that you happened along
in time to secure the piece.
The earliest Of these figures, and a hind
almost impossible to secure in this country,
were made OF a coarse pottery, covered
with slip, that is, a facing Of a higher quality
OF pottery, and then decorated. Indeed,
il is hard to find specimens Of these early
figures even in England; they have not at
tracted collectors till recently, and IL Ia
only in such repositories as museums that
you come across them. To tell the truth,
they are almost too gr~otesque, particularly
the cats and owls, which are favorite pat
terms. d.
The salt glaze figures are almost as rare
as the slip figures. They come both single
and double, a favorite design Of the latter
style being two lovers holding hands and
sitting under a tree.
They nave no color, and the curious pitted
surface is the chief characteristic OF this
ware. The figures are small, varying in size
from three and a half inches to six or eight,
and some are charming in pose and design.
About 1733 what were known as the
Astbury marbled figures were put on the
market. They were produced in two COL
ored clays, browns and greens, q v a won
derfully soft and satiny feeling and have
the mottled appearance popular about this
period.
These figures were made chiefly by the
Astburys. father and son, though no doubt
they were copied by other English potters.
Busts OF Milt on fourteen inches high, market
girls, Alderman Beckford and groups con
sisting Of figures on horseback and single
figures are eagerly sought.
Wheildon, who fiourished about l7S0, and
was at one time ip partnership with Josiah
Wedgwood, also made agate and notified
ware, and though the bulk Of his produc-
tons were tableware and utensils he also
found time TO make some Of these small
ornaments. which are full Of spirit, whether
they are soldiers, figures on horseback, q
man and a woman on a pillion or dogs Of
many varieties.
II you find any Of these figures snap them
up, set them in the midst of your collection
and allow no profane hand to dust them.
Horace Walpole even after he was a martyr
TO govt used to wash his porcelain treasures
himself; do you the same.
When the figure came to the hands OF the
-repairer." as he was called, he had but
the trunk in the fresh bone paste. He
then stuck on the head, legs, arms, dogs,
lambs, vases, punches of flowers and other
accessories, sharpened up the lines Of the
draperies, added the color which covered
many defects, and then the glazing was
applied.
This glazing filled up many Of the ine
lines and thus destroyed the elegance Of
the piece. Certain colors only were ap-
Piled under glaze, like the deep blue al
ready mentioned, while such colors as
or nye, pink, red, apple green were all
put on over glaze and only lightly fired.
Collectors divide these StaYordshire or
naments into two classes, early and VIC
torian. The former were made by such
potters as Ralph, Aaron and Enoch Wood,
Wood 4 Caldwell, Neal, Voyez, who at q
time worked for Wedgwood; Wheildon,
Walton, Adams, Wilson, Bott a Co.. Lakin
& Poole. Turner and Edge a Grocott. The
later or Victorian figures are rarely marked
and were made by all the countless potters
who turned out Stafordshire ware, and are
Of varying degrees OF interest.
Among the early figures -The Flight Into
Egypt was a favorite subject. Joseph
appears in Turkish trousers and great
~rotundity Of person.
Classical figures were popular. Falstaffs
were turned out by hundreds; children In
many poses with or without animals, the
seasons, famous men, bust and full figures,
and always dogs.
When the figures have backgrounds Of
trees or flowers they are called -boskies.'
and though you may find them in Stafford
shire they are more common In the high
grade figures. Often little punches and
sprays Of flowers will be scattered on the
base OF the figures, and add much to their
appearance, but they are fragile, so that you
seldom find a figure so decorated in perfect
condition. The swords and spears with
which the old figures we're armed have like