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ID #SA1008785
FOR SALE
£950
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Staffordshire Figure of Irish Patriot William Smith O'brien. C1848
For sale by CJ Antiques
for sale €1,112     $1,207
£950

CJ Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Aug 2009
Browse dealers 252 items
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Id #SA1008785
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Staffordshire Figure of Irish Patriot William Smith O'brien. C1848

19th century
For Sale by CJ Antiques
Description

RETIREMENT SALE. WAS £1995. NOW £950. FREE DELIVERY

A very rare portrait figure of the Irish Patriot, William Smith O’Brien. O’Brien seated on a chair on a titled base with gilt indented capitals, his hands in chains, wearing a long jacket, neckerchief, shirt, waistcoat, and trousers. A very crisp well modelled and coloured example in great condition, one of the best figures to have emanated from the Alpha factory c1848.

Date of Manufacture

CJ Antiques has dated this Staffordshire Pottery Figure to the 1850s.

Independent Date Guide ID 08061495
Dealer's Item Date1850s
Sellingantiques Date1850s
Sellingantiques agingItem 165-180 years old
ResultsDates match
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to THE 1850s:
Underglaze cobalt blue with enamel colours: typical Staffordshire factory decoration.
Title in gilded capitals on the plinth: standard Victorian commemorative lettering.
Hollow base with single vent hole: mid-nineteenth-century mould-cast earthenware.
Flaking to overglaze black enamel on hair: wear from handling.
Fine network of glaze crazing: natural ageing of early lead glaze.

This Independent Date Guide was compiled by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. It works only from the photographs shown on this page and is never told the date the dealer has declared. It is a guide, not a guarantee of age, and occasional errors can occur.

Physical Dimensions
Height
19cm (7.48")
Width
9cm (3.54")
Depth
8cm (3.15")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1008785
Dealers Notes

FREE DELIVERY- Most of our items priced in excess of £1500 are delivered free of charge and can be purchased with a 20% deposit and the balance on delivery to most mainland UK destinations. Please specify a postal area for clarification. We deliver to all international destinations in foam lined wooden ply crates. Please email or phone for a quote. We abide by the UK and EU consumer contracts regulations 2014/distance selling regulations and confirm that if for any reason you are not happy , within the first fourteen days of receiving the item, we will issue a full refund minus the return carriage costs. All items must be returned within 7 days following confirmation of intention to return the item.

All our items arrive in great condition and have all been through our workshops and fully restored so they arrive in house ready condition, unless stated to the contrary; any imperfections are commensurate with the age and beauty of owning antiques.

Description
RETIREMENT SALE. WAS £1995. NOW £950. FREE DELIVERY

A very rare portrait figure of the Irish Patriot, William Smith O’Brien.

“
O’Brien seated on a chair on a titled base with gilt indented capitals, his hands in chains, wearing a long jacket, neckerchief, shirt, waistcoat, and trousers.
CJ Antiques

A very crisp well modelled and coloured example in great condition, one of the best figures to have emanated from the Alpha factory c1848.

Date of Manufacture

CJ Antiques has dated this Staffordshire Pottery Figure to the 1850s.

Independent Date Report ID 08061495
Dealer's Item Date1850s
Sellingantiques dating1850s
Sellingantiques agingItem 165-180 years old
ResultsDates match
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to the 1850s:
Underglaze cobalt blue with enamel colours: typical Staffordshire factory decoration.
Title in gilded capitals on the plinth: standard Victorian commemorative lettering.
Hollow base with single vent hole: mid-nineteenth-century mould-cast earthenware.
Flaking to overglaze black enamel on hair: wear from handling.
Fine network of glaze crazing: natural ageing of early lead glaze.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Height
19cm (7.48")
Width
9cm (3.54")
Depth
8cm (3.15")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1008785
CJ Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Aug 2009
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the CJ Antiques Profile Page

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A Victorian Staffordshire earthenware portrait figure depicting Irish patriot William Smith OBrien seated in manacles, wearing a blue jacket and inscribed S. OBRIEN at the base.
1 / 6
Archive I A Victorian Staffordshire earthenware portrait figure depicting Irish patriot William Smith OBrien seated in manacles, wearing a blue jacket and inscribed S. OBRIEN at the base.

Staffordshire Figure of Irish Patriot William Smith O'brien. C1848

Archive II A Victorian Staffordshire earthenware portrait figure depicting Irish patriot William Smith OBrien seated in manacles, wearing a blue jacket and inscribed S. OBRIEN at the base. View II
Archive III A Victorian Staffordshire earthenware portrait figure depicting Irish patriot William Smith OBrien seated in manacles, wearing a blue jacket and inscribed S. OBRIEN at the base. View III
Archive IV Scale Reference for A Victorian Staffordshire earthenware portrait figure depicting Irish patriot William Smith OBrien seated in manacles, wearing a blue jacket and inscribed S. OBRIEN at the base.
Archive V A Victorian Staffordshire earthenware portrait figure depicting Irish patriot William Smith OBrien seated in manacles, wearing a blue jacket and inscribed S. OBRIEN at the base. View V
Archive VI A Victorian Staffordshire earthenware portrait figure depicting Irish patriot William Smith OBrien seated in manacles, wearing a blue jacket and inscribed S. OBRIEN at the base. View VI
Enlarged Archival View

CJ Antiques
Telephone 07929 760779
Location
Anglesey
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/cj
Verified Since Aug 2009
Items For Sale 252
Items Sold 587
CJ Antiques
Verified Since Aug 2009
View Dealer Info
Location: Anglesey, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/cj
Verified
Aug 2009
For Sale
252
Sold
587
A Victorian Staffordshire earthenware portrait figure depicting Irish patriot William Smith OBrien seated in manacles, wearing a blue jacket and inscribed S. OBRIEN at the base.
Staffordshire figure of Irish patriot William Smith O'Brien. c1848
Ref: SA1008785
A Victorian Staffordshire earthenware portrait figure depicting Irish patriot William Smith OBrien seated in manacles, wearing a blue jacket and inscribed S. OBRIEN at the base.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Scale Reference
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectDecorative Figurines
  • Period19th century
  • StyleVictorian
  • MaterialEarthenware, Enamel Glaze
  • ColourCobalt Blue
  • MotifsManacled hands, inscribed pedestal base, mould-formed drapery, overglaze enamel painting
  • SizeH 19 cm (7 in) x W 9 cm (4 in) x D 8 cm (3 in)

This Victorian Staffordshire earthenware portrait figure depicts the Irish patriot William Smith O'Brien seated on a chair, placed upon a titled base with gilt indented capitals and an inscribed 'S. O'BRIEN' name. The figure wears a cobalt blue long jacket over a pink waistcoat, white shirt, black neckerchief, and light brown trousers, with manacled hands chained at the front. The piece exhibits overglaze enamel painting with crisp, well-modelled drapery, black painted shoes, and a glossy finish over the ceramic body. The dimensions measure 19 cm high, 9 cm wide, and 8 cm deep. Placement suits a traditional mantelpiece, bookshelf, or display cabinet within a living room, study, or hallway interior. The object integrates well into period displays, historic figure collections, or Victorian themed rooms as a decorative accent.

FAQs

Staffordshire portrait figures are earthenware ornaments manufactured in Staffordshire, England, during the 19th century to depict royalty, political figures, military heroes, and theatrical personalities for domestic display.

These figures were press-moulded from earthenware clay in two or more sections, joined before firing, glazed with a lead glaze, and subsequently hand-painted using overglaze enamel colours.

Authentic period examples display lightweight earthenware bodies, age-related glaze crazing, hand-painted details with subtle firing irregularities, and unglazed bases often featuring small vent holes.

Historical ceramics can be styled as focal accents on a bookshelf, mantelpiece, or glass display cabinet alongside contemporary artwork or modern minimal furnishings.

Clean gently with a dry, soft-bristled brush or a light, damp cloth using lukewarm water, avoiding full immersion or detergent solutions that could damage overglaze enamels.
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