{"id":2117,"date":"2018-05-02T14:26:52","date_gmt":"2018-05-02T13:26:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/madelena.com\/blog\/?p=2117"},"modified":"2025-10-18T11:21:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T10:21:09","slug":"antique-victorian-staffordshire-pottery-spaniels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madelena.com\/blog\/antique-victorian-staffordshire-pottery-spaniels\/","title":{"rendered":"Antique Victorian Staffordshire Pottery Spaniels and Animals"},"content":{"rendered":"

Look into a tiny corner of the enthralling world of\u00a0antique Victorian Staffordshire pottery spaniels. These are a type of pottery ‘figure’ made in the UK between 1837 and 1900. Typically they were decorated with coloured enamels over a plain lead glaze.<\/p>\n

\"Antique<\/a>
Figures associated with Queen Victoria. On the left: The Royal Arms. On the Right: A reminder of Victoria’s role as Empress of India, the Lion representing Great Britain, the Tiger the Raj, subcontinent of India.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the height of British Empire, with a strong economy, and a popular Queen, you would likely be interested in buying such a figure for your mantlepiece. At the height of madness in today\u2019s world, you might be thinking of investing in a piece of history.<\/p>\n

Victorian Staffordshire pottery<\/h1>\n

With the accession of an attractive young Queen, the potteries went to work producing figures celebrating herself, her marriage,<\/p>\n

\"Prince<\/a>
Prince Albert and the teenage (18 years) Queen Victoria.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

and her children, nine in all. Note the Staffordshire potters exploiting all selling points: children of the Queen, charming dogs almost as large as the children, and kilts to remind us of the Queen’s love of Scotland.<\/p>\n

\"Royal<\/a>
Queen Victoria’s first two children, kilted, with dogs.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Deeply concerned with the Crimean War (1854-56), her armed forces, her alliances, generals and victories were further subjects for the potters of Staffordshire to portray.<\/p>\n

\"Young<\/a>
Young girl and young boy setting off to the Crimean War.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At least the potters spared us tartan for the young people prepared to die.<\/p>\n

Two Famous Women<\/h1>\n

The outstanding character, it could be said, of the Crimean War was no ally, general, or politician friend of the Queen.<\/p>\n

\"Florence<\/a>
Florence Nightingale served to saved lives in the Crimea.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was instead, Florence Nightingale. She fought the Army Generals to allow her to serve. She brought organisation and medical discipline to the shambles that were army hospitals supporting the fighting men. Before her time thousands died unnecessarily of their wounds.<\/p>\n

Returning from the war, she wrote the first ever book on practical Nursing, and founded the first ever Nursing School.<\/p>\n

Another celebrated individual, memoirs first published in 1838, was the remarkable Lady Hester Stanhope.<\/p>\n

\"Antique<\/a>
Lady Hester Stanhope, innovative and resourceful explorer and archaeologist<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 1876 two female novelists George Eliot and Louisa May Alcott, both celebrated her very remarkable originality of thought and extraordinary expeditions that had been conducted earlier in the century. Her archaeological expedition to Palestine was the first ever dig allowed in that country. The accumulation of publicity made a great impact on the general public.<\/p>\n

Thus, mounted on a camel and dressed as a male Arab, she had become a suitable subject for a pottery figure.<\/p>\n

For some interesting dates, spaniel figures, other breeds and animals please read on by clicking 2<\/strong>…\u00a0<\/p>\n

1837 Coronation of Queen Victoria, aged 18
\n1840 Queen Victoria married Prince Albert
\n1841 Bristol to London Railway completed
\n1842 Mines Act: Boys in mines must be aged 10+
\n1843 Charles Dickens Christmas Carol published
\n1845 Irish potato famines and migration to US
\n1851 Great Exhibition
\n1851 Population of England 16.8 million, half now live in towns
\n1854-56 Crimean War: Russia v. Britain, France & Turkey
\n1854 Cholera epidemic
\n1856 Police forces now in every town
\n1861 Typhoid kills Prince Albert
\n1863 Worlds first underground railway
\n1864 Act of Parliament: Boys in chimneys must be aged 10+
\n1868 The last public hanging
\n1876 Telephone invented by Alexander Bell
\n1878 First public electric lighting in London
\n1880 School for ages 5 to 10 compulsory
\n1883 First electric railway
\n1887 Golden Jubilee
\n1891 Free school for all, ages 5 to 13
\n1901 King Edward VII coronation
\n1901 Population of England 30.5 million<\/p>\n

Antique Victorian Staffordshire Pottery Spaniels<\/h1>\n

Who does not love a spaniel?<\/p>\n

The popularity of today’s antique Victorian Staffordshire pottery spaniels surged. The\u00a0King Charles spaniel the most popular of all, following the publicity given to Queen Victoria\u2019s \u2018Dash\u2019.<\/p>\n

[R-slider id=”3″]<\/p>\n

All figures available for sale at time of writing from<\/p>\n

Madelena<\/a> – world’s best collection of\u00a0Staffordshire figures<\/p>\n

Staffordshire Animals and Lions<\/h1>\n

Also popular with the public before and during Queen Victoria’s reign were lions and tigers.<\/p>\n

Courtesy of the Potteries Museum<\/a>, Stoke-on-Trent, taken during a group visit, here are some interesting early figures.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Antique<\/a>
Unusual pre-Victorian Staffordshire lion spill vase decorated with coloured lead glazes. Thanks to Potteries Museum, Stoke-on-Trent.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Antique<\/a>
Circa 1780 Prattware figure of a very tame spotted Bear with Lions and dogs. Thanks to Potteries Museum, Stoke-on-Trent.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Antique<\/a>
Circa 1820 Pearlware Staffordshire Pottery Tiger. Extraordinarily long base accommodates the tail. Unusual depiction of a diminutive human in the jaws of the tiger. Thanks to Potteries Museum, Stoke-on-Trent.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Back to Antique Victorian Staffordshire Pottery Spaniels and other breeds<\/h1>\n

The Queen and her public enjoyed other breeds too.<\/p>\n

\"Antique<\/a>
Rare pair of Terriers and Pups<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Antique<\/a>

Victorian Staffordshire Bearded Collies<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Antique<\/a>
Late Victorian Pottery Pugs, made in Scotland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Antique<\/a>
Pre-Victorian Staffordshire Pottery Greyhound<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Figures available for sale at time of writing from\u00a0Madelena<\/a> – world’s best collection of\u00a0Staffordshire figures, spaniels, and other breeds<\/p>\n

In\u00a0 Conclusion<\/h1>\n

We looked into a tiny corner of the enthralling world of\u00a0antique Victorian Staffordshire pottery spaniels and discovered people, things, dogs and other animals from an era much different to our 21st century yet with so much in common. The figures connect us with the past, helping us to understand lives lived in different circumstances.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is more, much more… we have not even touched on the animal stories, the places, palaces and pastimes making headlines back then.<\/p>\n

Madelena<\/a> – article on Staffordshire figures
\nWikipedia<\/a> – article on Staffordshire ‘figurines’
\nPotteries Museum<\/a> – UK’s best collection of pottery made in Staffordshire