Pair of Victorian Staffordshire Flat Back Spill Holders

A charming pair of Victorian Staffordshire spill holders featuring russet and white cows being milked by a boy and a girl respectively. Set on a base painted naturalistically with tussocks of grass. Gilding to the rim of the spill vase and the base, also to boy's sleeves. Spill vase in the shape of a tree trunk.

Condition: Gilding still good on bases and rim of spill vase. Cow with boy showing some wear to paint - specifically the russett patches on the cow - commensurate with age. Small chip to top of spill holder at the back. Some crazing typical of age. Cow with girl milkmaid shows much less wear to the paint, and some crazing typical of age.

Book reference: Victorian Staffordshire Figures 1815-1875 (Book 2) by A & N Harding page 160, fig: 2.

A combination of the right clays, inventive potters such as Josiah Wedgwood and available labour made the Staffordshire district the centre of the china industry. Many small forgotten factories as well as the giants such as Spode, Wedgwood, Adams, clustered in the towns of Burslem, Cobridge, Fenton, Longton, Stoke and Tunstall, now incorporated in the present day town of Stoke-on-Trent.

England’s Industrial Revolution coincided almost exactly with the start of Queen Victoria's reign in 1837, creating wealth from industry. The new middle classes were eager to emulate their betters by decorating their homes with objects similar to costly Meissen and Chelsea figures, and Staffordshire potters obliged by turning out painted and glazed pottery greyhounds, houses, sheep, dogs, cattle and more exotic animals such as zebras and elephants. Figures of gods and goddesses, examples drawn from literature, famous political and military men and above all, representations of royalty, all found homes in England and America.

All of the items that we advertise for sale have been as accurately described as possible and are in excellent condition, unless otherwise stated. Please note that we are also able to arrange a full shipping service for our customers. We offer a 14 day returns policy. In the unlikely event that you are not completely satisfied with your purchase we will issue a full refund of the purchase price less the return transport costs with an approved courier once an item is received by us in the same condition as it was originally dispatched. We look forward to being of service.