What are Staffordshire flatbacks?

Staffordshire flatbacks are earthenware figures produced during the nineteenth century with decorated fronts and plain backs. They were made specifically to be displayed on mantelpieces against cottage or parlour walls. Potters created these pieces in moulds and painted them by hand with enamel colours. They often depicted royalty, political events, literary characters, or domestic animals.

How do spill vases work?

Spill vases combine a decorative figural sculpture with an integrated vertical cylinder. The hollow tube was designed to hold wooden splints called spills, which residents used to transfer a flame from the fireplace to lamps or candles. These functional ornaments often depict animals, such as deer or sheep, nestled beside the tree-trunk or pillar container. They merged everyday household utility with decorative parlour display.

Fairings are small Victorian ceramic ornaments that were originally sold at annual country fairs. They typically portray humorous domestic narratives accompanied by moulded titles or captions. These pocket-sized pieces offer a glimpse into Victorian popular culture and everyday domestic humour. Their small scale and lighthearted themes made them affordable and amusing souvenirs.