Little Red Riding Hood Staffordshire Spill Vase Early, Circa 1840-1850, Flat Back, Vibrant Colors.

Little Red Riding Hood Staffordshire Spill Vase Early, circa 1840-1850, flat back, vibrant colors.

10 inches in height, 5.1875 by 2.25 inches at the base. With the characteristic red ‘hash’ mark on the base. Two chips at the base underneath and at the sides, some nibbles at the flowers on the tree limbs as well. The colors are more muted than the later versions as well. The tree is taller than the later versions, the tree was shortened. Provenance: Knox Mansion / Orchard House 800 Delaware Ave Buffalo, NY by direct descent. The Knox family of Buffalo are founders of FW Woolworth.
Small chips on the base and gilding on the base, generally a line is worn off, probably from polishing. Otherwise, intact and a very early piece. Later versions have variations to the back plate, not showing the details and the lines. The red hash mark is also found on the V&A example which is related to Queen Victoria’s ascension to the throne in 1837, making this piece one of the earlier versions.

Estimate: $300-$400
Reference: 206-150

Victoria and Albert Museum. “Earthenware flatbacks and figurines for mantelpiece decoration were first produced in Staffordshire in the late 1830s. The earliest datable figures appear to be of Queen Victoria. Production of earthenware figures continued throughout Victoria's lifetime, but although they were still made after her death in 1901, few appear to have been produced after 1905. During their heyday, however, they were produced in vast numbers, usually modelled after prints. They represented a wide variety of subjects but those of actors and actresses were especially popular”.
The spill vase figure represents Little Red Riding Hood, who appeared in a French collection of fairy tales published by Charles Perrault in 1697 and translated into English in 1729. Little Red Riding Hood is shown meeting the wolf in the woods. The wolf subsequently eats Red Riding Hood's grandmother, impersonates the grandmother in bed and consumes the unfortunate Red Riding Hood. This spill vase may have been produced because of the tale's popularity at the time, possibly because there was a burlesque dramatization of the story at the Adelphi Theatre in about 1850. Spill vases held wax tapers, used in the 19th century for lighting fires and candles.

The last three images are from the Victoria and Albert Museum, please note the 'red' hash mark that is similar to this item on the base. Also, the V&A has a hairline on the back, this vase doesn't.

Notes: Good condition, chips to the base, see images and description.

$300 - $400

5.1875" x 2.25" x 10"

Home Decor, Porcelains / Fine China

20%

Richard Gabriel | (781) 883-6639 | gabriel@calixbooks.com

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