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ID #SA1218637
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£695
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Pair of Antique English Victorian Staffordshire Pottery Figures ~ "Sand" and "Beesums"
Antiques4EU
for sale €813     $883
£695
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Pair of Antique English Victorian Staffordshire Pottery Figures ~ "Sand" and "Beesums"

19th century
For Sale by Antiques4EU
Description

A glimpse of social history is offered by this scarce and delightful Pair of Mid 19th Century Antique English Victorian Staffordshire Pottery Titled Figures of Street Vendors, "Sand", H a2176 and "Beesums", H a2177, each titled on the base in raised gilt capitals. Highly evocative of the period and in excellent condition, these figures are very rarely met with in today's marketplace.

She stands in front of her mule, wearing a mob cap, blouse, and dress with apron, a bowl in her right hand, her left resting upon a bag of sand on the animal's back. He stands in front of his mule, wearing a hat, long coat, waistcoat, shirt and trousers, his right hand holding two bundles of beesums on the saddle, while two more rest on the ground.

Sizes ~

Sand Vendor ~ Height ~ 20.95 cm. / 8.25 inches ~ Width ~ 20.32 cm. / 8.00 inches ~ Depth ~ 8.25 cm. / 3.25 inches ~ Year ~ Circa 1850

Beesums Vendor ~ Height ~ 22.22 cm. / 8.75 inches ~ Width ~ 20.95 cm. / 8.25 inches ~ Depth ~ 8.89 cm. / 3.50 inches ~ Year ~ Circa 1850

At this period, Staffordshire working class cottages typically were floored with flagstones, as were many shops. These floors, unsurprisingly, accumulated a considerable amount of grease and dirt. Cleaning was normally accomplished by spreading Sand liberally over the flags and then "walking it in" for a few days, after which it was then swept up using a "Beesum" broom and disposed of, leaving the flagstones clean and polished.

The Street Vendors who sold goods often had a "cry" peculiar to their trade, and for the sellers of Sand it was "sanyello" { yellow sand } ~ The animals depicted would have been mules not donkeys, these being the usual beasts of burden employed in The Potteries at that time, regularly used for carrying the loads of clay and silicates to the numerous potters situated in the narrow alleyways and courts that left little room for bulk cartage ~

LOVE This Item ? ~ Why Not Make Us An Offer ?

Our Warranty:- Buy it, enjoy it and take good care of it, subject only to these conditions, we undertake to accept this item back at any time and to credit the original purchase price against further purchases.

BUY this fine Collector's Item NOW with your Debit / Credit Card via STRIPE our Ultra Secure Payment Gateway, via Direct Bank Transfer or via PayPal ~ Simply make your selection at the Checkout

Physical Dimensions
Height
22cm (8.66")
Width
21cm (8.27")
Depth
9cm (3.54")
Declaration

Antiques4EU has dated these Victorian Staffordshire Pottery Figures to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1218637
Dealers Internal Reference
POAEVSPFSAB-124
Description
A glimpse of social history is offered by this scarce and delightful Pair of Mid 19th Century Antique English Victorian Staffordshire Pottery Titled Figures of Street Vendors, "Sand", H a2176 and "Beesums", H a2177, each titled on the base in raised gilt capitals.
“
Highly evocative of the period and in excellent condition, these figures are very rarely met with in today's marketplace.
Antiques4EU
fig 1. A pair of Victorian Staffordshire earthenware pottery figures depicting street traders named Sand and Beesums standing beside saddled grey donkeys.
fig 1. Pair of Antique English Victorian Staffordshire Pottery Figures ~ "Sand" and "Beesums"

She stands in front of her mule, wearing a mob cap, blouse, and dress with apron, a bowl in her right hand, her left resting upon a bag of sand on the animal's back. He stands in front of his mule, wearing a hat, long coat, waistcoat, shirt and trousers, his right hand holding two bundles of beesums on the saddle, while two more rest on the ground.

fig 2. A pair of Victorian Staffordshire earthenware pottery figures depicting street traders named Sand and Beesums standing beside saddled grey donkeys.
fig 2. Pair of Antique English Victorian Staffordshire Pottery Figures ~ "Sand" and "Beesums"

Sizes ~

Sand Vendor ~ Height ~ 20.95 cm. / 8.25 inches ~ Width ~ 20.32 cm. / 8.00 inches ~ Depth ~ 8.25 cm. / 3.25 inches ~ Year ~ Circa 1850

Beesums Vendor ~ Height ~ 22.22 cm. / 8.75 inches ~ Width ~ 20.95 cm. / 8.25 inches ~ Depth ~ 8.89 cm. / 3.50 inches ~ Year ~ Circa 1850

fig 3. A pair of Victorian Staffordshire earthenware pottery figures depicting street traders named Sand and Beesums standing beside saddled grey donkeys.
fig 3. Pair of Antique English Victorian Staffordshire Pottery Figures ~ "Sand" and "Beesums"

At this period, Staffordshire working class cottages typically were floored with flagstones, as were many shops. These floors, unsurprisingly, accumulated a considerable amount of grease and dirt. Cleaning was normally accomplished by spreading Sand liberally over the flags and then "walking it in" for a few days, after which it was then swept up using a "Beesum" broom and disposed of, leaving the flagstones clean and polished.

fig 4. A pair of Victorian Staffordshire earthenware pottery figures depicting street traders named Sand and Beesums standing beside saddled grey donkeys.
fig 4. Pair of Antique English Victorian Staffordshire Pottery Figures ~ "Sand" and "Beesums"

The Street Vendors who sold goods often had a "cry" peculiar to their trade, and for the sellers of Sand it was "sanyello" { yellow sand } ~ The animals depicted would have been mules not donkeys, these being the usual beasts of burden employed in The Potteries at that time, regularly used for carrying the loads of clay and silicates to the numerous potters situated in the narrow alleyways and courts that left little room for bulk cartage ~

fig 5. A pair of Victorian Staffordshire earthenware pottery figures depicting street traders named Sand and Beesums standing beside saddled grey donkeys.
fig 5. Pair of Antique English Victorian Staffordshire Pottery Figures ~ "Sand" and "Beesums"

LOVE This Item ? ~ Why Not Make Us An Offer ?

Our Warranty:- Buy it, enjoy it and take good care of it, subject only to these conditions, we undertake to accept this item back at any time and to credit the original purchase price against further purchases.

BUY this fine Collector's Item NOW with your Debit / Credit Card via STRIPE our Ultra Secure Payment Gateway, via Direct Bank Transfer or via PayPal ~ Simply make your selection at the Checkout

Height
22cm (8.66")
Width
21cm (8.27")
Depth
9cm (3.54")
Date of Manufacture

Antiques4EU has dated these Victorian Staffordshire Pottery Figures to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1218637
Dealers Internal Ref
POAEVSPFSAB-124
Antiques4EU
Antiques4EU
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2020

Dealers in the old, the rare and the beautiful ~

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Antiques4EU Profile Page

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A pair of Victorian Staffordshire earthenware pottery figures depicting street traders named Sand and Beesums standing beside saddled grey donkeys.
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Archive I A pair of Victorian Staffordshire earthenware pottery figures depicting street traders named Sand and Beesums standing beside saddled grey donkeys.

Pair of Antique English Victorian Staffordshire Pottery Figures ~ "Sand" and "Beesums"

Archive II A pair of Victorian Staffordshire earthenware pottery figures depicting street traders named Sand and Beesums standing beside saddled grey donkeys. View II
Archive III A pair of Victorian Staffordshire earthenware pottery figures depicting street traders named Sand and Beesums standing beside saddled grey donkeys. View III
Archive IV A pair of Victorian Staffordshire earthenware pottery figures depicting street traders named Sand and Beesums standing beside saddled grey donkeys. View IV
Archive V A pair of Victorian Staffordshire earthenware pottery figures depicting street traders named Sand and Beesums standing beside saddled grey donkeys. View V
Archive VI A pair of Victorian Staffordshire earthenware pottery figures depicting street traders named Sand and Beesums standing beside saddled grey donkeys. View VI
Archive VII A pair of Victorian Staffordshire earthenware pottery figures depicting street traders named Sand and Beesums standing beside saddled grey donkeys. View VII
Archive VIII A pair of Victorian Staffordshire earthenware pottery figures depicting street traders named Sand and Beesums standing beside saddled grey donkeys. View VIII
Archive IX A pair of Victorian Staffordshire earthenware pottery figures depicting street traders named Sand and Beesums standing beside saddled grey donkeys. View IX
Archive X A pair of Victorian Staffordshire earthenware pottery figures depicting street traders named Sand and Beesums standing beside saddled grey donkeys. View X
Archive XI A pair of Victorian Staffordshire earthenware pottery figures depicting street traders named Sand and Beesums standing beside saddled grey donkeys. View XI
Archive XII A pair of Victorian Staffordshire earthenware pottery figures depicting street traders named Sand and Beesums standing beside saddled grey donkeys. View XII
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Antiques4EU

Antiques4EU
Telephone 07711 802159
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Shropshire
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/Antiques4EU
Verified Since Oct 2020
Items For Sale 200
Items Sold 8
Antiques4EU
Antiques4EU
Verified Since Oct 2020
View Dealer Info
Location: Shrewsbury, Shropshire, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/Antiques4EU
Verified
Oct 2020
For Sale
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A pair of Victorian Staffordshire earthenware pottery figures depicting street traders named Sand and Beesums standing beside saddled grey donkeys.
Pair of Antique English Victorian Staffordshire Pottery Figures ~ "Sand" and "Beesums"
Ref: SA1218637
A pair of Victorian Staffordshire earthenware pottery figures depicting street traders named Sand and Beesums standing beside saddled grey donkeys.
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FAQs

Staffordshire pottery figures are earthenware ornaments produced in the pottery district of Staffordshire, England, primarily during the 19th century. They were created as accessible decorative items for Victorian homes, depicting subjects ranging from royalty and military heroes to everyday street traders and animals.

These figures were typically press-moulded using local earthenware clay, creating hollow interiors and flattened backs. After an initial bisque firing, the pieces were dipped in lead glaze and finished with hand-painted enamel decoration before a final low-temperature firing.

Authentic 19th-century pieces generally exhibit a small air-release hole near the base, light crazing in the glaze, and unglazed flat backs intended for mantelpiece display. Hand-painted details often show slight variations, and the bases frequently show age-appropriate surface wear.

Staffordshire figures are commonly styled on mantelpieces, bookshelves, or sideboards. Arranging them alongside books, contemporary art, or minimal greenery creates an eclectic contrast between historical folk art and modern decor.

Clean these figures using a soft, dry brush or a lightly dampened microfiber cloth. Avoid submerging earthenware in water or using abrasive chemicals, as moisture can enter cracks in the glaze and damage the soft ceramic body underneath.
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