What is a flatback spill vase?

A flatback spill vase is a nineteenth-century Staffordshire pottery ornament featuring a decorative figure group with a built-in hollow tube at the back. These tubes held wooden spills that people used to carry flames from the fireplace to light candles and lamps before safety matches became common.

Where were these figures placed?

These decorative objects were designed to sit on mantelpieces, ledges, and shelves within Victorian homes. Because the backs of the figures are flat, they fit neatly against room walls where space was limited.

What subjects do they show?

The pottery depicts a wide range of subjects including animals like cows and deer, castles, milkmaids, and literary or moral groups. Common titles recorded include Scots harvesters, band of hope, and babes in the wood.

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A victorian flatback spill vase brings cheerful nineteenth-century character to a mantelpiece, combining pottery figures with a handy tube to hold matches.

Rare 'Babes in the Wood' Staffordshire Figure

19th century

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Rare 'Babes in the Wood' Staffordshire Figure

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Victorian Flatback Spill Vase

Rare 'Babes in the Wood' Staffordshire Figure

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