Antique Staffordshire figures
Antique Victorian Staffordshire figures were intended to be viewed on a mantlepiece from the front only, and consequently the backs were neither modelled or painted; hence the name `flatbacks´ for such pieces. Many figures were simple, but highly decorative, images of children or lovers.
From the 1840s there was a demand for portraits of famous people, whose features were copied from journals or the covers of popular printed music. In an age when the public rarely knew what famous people truly looked like, potters sometimes reused discontinued moulds to represent more topical individuals. Some antique figures were even wrongly named, such as a portrait of Benjamin Franklin labelled as George Washington.
Some popular antique figures were produced for many years and often require a close examination to determine whether they are earlier or later examples; this can greatly affect the value. As there are many fake Staffordshire figures on the market it is important to learn the correct `feel´ of genuine pieces, and it is advisable to buy only from reputable dealers and auctioneers.