Figure of the month

Hunting dog

August 2017

From medieval times until 1831, game law restricted ownership of hunting dogs such as this pearlware pooch to landed gentry with sufficient income from land. This barred over 99% of the population from owning hunting breeds. The stars of the canine world then were pointers and setters. Their regal bearing made them gentlemen’s hunting helpmates, and those with good field skills commanded high prices.

More Figures of the month

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.

Richard Cobden

October 2025

This is a rare Staffordshire figure of Richard Cobden, the English politician, economist, and leader of the effort to abolish the Corn Laws in 1846.

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