Figure of the month

Agrippina

June 2020

In the year 19 AD, the Roman commander Germanicus died of poisoning, and his widow Agrippina brought his ashes home. This tragic subject was appealing in the neoclassical period.

This figure of Agrippina is 8 inches tall. It pairs with a similar figure of Poor Maria. See Schkolne Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840 Volume 4, pages 113, 114.

 The figure of Agrippina derives from Alexander Runciman’s print of 1773 titled “Agrippina with the Ashes of Germanicus”, which is now in Tate’s collection. Read more about it on the artwork’s page on Tate’s website.

Agrippina with the Ashes of Germanicus first printed circa 1773 Alexander Runciman 1736-1785 Purchased 1983

More Figures of the month

Sir William John Codrington

April 2026

This is a rare figure of Sir William John Codrington.  He was a British army officer who eventually became a general and then Commander in Chief of British forces in the Crimean War. 

Tam O’Shanter and Souter Johnny

March 2026

This is a rare pair of early figures of Tam O’Shanter and Souter Johnny, characters in the Robert Burns play “Tam O’Shanter”, written in 1790.

A pair of giraffes

February 2026

This is a fine pair of Staffordshire giraffes, seated below palm trees, each approximately 5 ½” tall.  These figures are very rare, dating to approximately 1850. 

Old Age

January 2026

This is a fine pair of early Staffordshire figures portraying “Old Age”. They stand about 8 ¾” tall and date to about 1820. 

A pair of pointers

December 2025

This is a rare pair of Staffordshire foxhounds, pointers, or game dogs. Whatever one decides to call them, they are an unusual and very fine pair.

Reverand Edward Meyrick Goulburn

November 2025

This is a rare Staffordshire figure of the Reverand Edward Goulburn, standing approximately 11 1/2” tall and dating to about 1860.

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