c. 1855 - 1920

Queen Victoria’s reign (1837-1901) very nearly coincides with the popularity, design and manufacture of Staffordshire earthenware flat-backed chimney ornaments, which though predominantly of figures also included houses, castles, schools and even exotic animals. They may be distinguished from earlier pieces by the greater whiteness of their clay and from the fact that they were made generally from two or three piece moulds. Hand work was used to join the figure, sprig it and paint it. Characteristically, the base is a closed, smooth, flattened oval. The first Staffordshire figures were naturally of the Queen, herself, and then after 1840 came a flood of figures in the new style made to satisfy the rising ambitions of England’s middle and working class families. These figures functioned as a type of tabloid newspaper illustration which might be cut out and mounted on the wall. Of the hundred of figures ultimately produced, showing political leaders, theater stars, religious worthies, generals and admirals, which were all popular subjects – but so too were figures of murders and scandals. Staffordshire houses may be grouped in three categories. Some are Romantic imagined rural cottages or city dwellings embellished with graceful florals; some are based on actual castles dotting the English countryside; and several depict places where gruesome crimes occurred. These ceramics commemorative structures were dubbed “murder houses” – places where actual crimes were committed. Sensational stories of true crime fascinated audiences then, much like today. One of the first Staffordshire murder houses was issued c. 1849 and represented “Stanfield Hall,” the home of the two victims of a property dispute. Our garlanded 3 story house, first issued c. 1855, relates, happily, to the first Romantic category and perhaps was thought to have snow on the roof and be decorated for Christmas. In addition, the model house is really a bank with a slot in the back for depositing coins – perhaps to fund next year’s Christmas gifts. The question of “Who made it?” is lost to history, as is establishing the exact date for our specific house. Whatever the answer is to these questions, the fact remains that this model seems to have brought warmth and joy to generations and hopefully will do the same for you.