Figure of the month

King of Sardinia

J & S Mottashed Collection
November 2022

This is a rare figure of Victor Emmanuel II, the King of Sardinia and later the first King of Italy.  The figure is titled with gold accented raised capitals, stands approximately 12 3/4” tall, and dates to about 1855.  It is probably a Crimean war figure, with Emmanuel being shown in military uniform. 

This figure may be found in Gordon Pugh’s Victorian Staffordshire Portrait Figures, page 297, figure 300.  It also may be found in Harding Victorian Staffordshire Figures, Book One, page 218, figure 753.

J & S Mottashed Collection

More Figures of the month

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.

Rare pair of camel figures

September 2025

This is a rare, mirror image pair of Staffordshire camel figures. They are generally believed to represent Lady Hester Stanhope and her personal physician and companion Dr. Charles Lewis Meryon, though this attribution is not certain. 

Pair of standing lions

August 2025

This is a fine pair of Staffordshire lions standing on coloured bases.  Each lion is approximately 10” tall and dates to about 1860.  These figures may be found in Harding’s Book Two, page 259.   

Rare figure of Victorian card playing

July 2025

At first glance, this may appear to be an ordinary arbour figure. But upon closer inspection, one can see these three people are engaged in a game of cards. 

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