How do I spot a reproduction?

Older pieces exhibit natural crazing in the glaze, softer enamel colours, and signs of age on the unglazed bases. Modern copies often feel heavier, show bright, uniform machine painting, and lack the characteristic wear patterns of nineteenth-century items.

Why do some figures have flat backs?

Potters left the backs unmodelled and partially unglazed because these ornaments stood against walls in narrow rooms. This technique also saved clay and prevented distortion during the high-temperature kiln firing.

What is a spill vase figure?

A spill vase combines a decorative animal or human sculpture with an integrated cylindrical holder for wooden tapers. Households used these tapers to transfer flames from the fireplace to candles and oil lamps before matches became common.