Coursing greyhounds
![](https://www.staffordshirefigureassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMGP4288-1.jpeg)
![](https://www.staffordshirefigureassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMGP4288-1.jpeg)
Coursing, the pursuit of hares by greyhounds, was a very popular Victorian sport. The whippet is a smaller dog but very similar in type to a greyhound and would have been kept by many country folks. They would have been used to pursue rabbits as in these figures. The prey is indeed rabbit, as rabbits have smaller ears than hares.
These fine figures show whippets chasing rabbits. The dogs are leaping a fence with a stream below.
They are 11 inches tall. See Harding, Victorian Staffordshire Dogs page 86, figs 2661/2662.
![](https://www.staffordshirefigureassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMGP4288-1.jpeg)
![](https://www.staffordshirefigureassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMGP4288-1.jpeg)
More Figures of the month
![](https://www.staffordshirefigureassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/478-Elizabeth-Barrett-Browning.jpg)
![](https://www.staffordshirefigureassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/478-Elizabeth-Barrett-Browning.jpg)
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
This is a rare Staffordshire figure of a woman seated on a couch, with her dog beside her. It is generally believed to represent Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and her dog Flush. This figure stands about 5 ¼” tall and dates to approximately 1846-1850.
![](https://www.staffordshirefigureassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/473-474-Bactrian-Camels.jpg)
![](https://www.staffordshirefigureassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/473-474-Bactrian-Camels.jpg)
A pair of camels
This is an interesting pair of Staffordshire camels, each about 6 1/4” tall, and dating to approximately 1860.
![](https://www.staffordshirefigureassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/201-202-Elijah-and-the-Widow.jpg)
![](https://www.staffordshirefigureassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/201-202-Elijah-and-the-Widow.jpg)
Prophet Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath
This is a fine pair of early Staffordshire figures of Elijah, the Old Testament prophet, and the Widow of Zarephath. This pair of figures is attributed to Obadiah Sherratt, the table bases, bocage, and flowers being typical of Sherratt.
![](https://www.staffordshirefigureassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Boys-Playing-Cricket.jpg)
![](https://www.staffordshirefigureassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Boys-Playing-Cricket.jpg)
Boys playing cricket
This is a pair of Staffordshire figures of unidentified boys playing cricket, standing 6 ½” and 6 ¾” tall, dating to around 1850.
![](https://www.staffordshirefigureassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tom-King-and-Dick-Turpin-2-scaled.jpg)
![](https://www.staffordshirefigureassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tom-King-and-Dick-Turpin-2-scaled.jpg)
Tom King and Dick Turpin
This is a fine pair of Staffordshire figures of Tom King and Dick Turpin, probably originating from a theatrical production. Note the four separately moulded legs on each horse.
![](https://www.staffordshirefigureassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/206-Artabanes-small.png)
![](https://www.staffordshirefigureassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/206-Artabanes-small.png)
Artabanes
This is a theatrical figure representing an actor in the role of Artabanes, from the opera Artaxerxes. The figure stands 11 3/4” tall, dates to approximately 1830-1840, and is very rare. There is a dagger in his right hand, part of the blade being hidden beneath his sash. The interior and the edging of his coat are fully lined with ermine.