English Creamware Pottery Model of a Seated Lion, With a Whieldon-Type Tortoise-Shell Glaze, Circa 1765-85

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Majestic Beast: English Creamware Lion with Whieldon Glaze

This exceptional English Creamware Pottery Model of a Seated Lion, dating to … Read more Majestic Beast: English Creamware Lion with Whieldon Glaze

This exceptional English Creamware Pottery Model of a Seated Lion, dating to circa 1765–85, is a fine example of the highly popular decorative earthenware from the Staffordshire potteries. This regal animal figure sits atop an oval base, defined by its complex glaze and body composition, typical of the Whieldon-type wares of the period.

The figure has a hollow interior revealing a red clay body, which suggests it was originally intended to be an agate ware piece, likely by combining the red clay with a contrasting white or buff clay. However, the surface was finished with a distinct Whieldon-type tortoise-shell glaze, characterized by mottled patches of green and brown over a rich, yellowish-cream ground. This technique was achieved by applying colored metallic oxides—such as copper for green and manganese for brown—over a lead-glaze, often by sponging, before firing.

Dimensions: The figure measures 7 3/4 inches high x 6 inches wide x 4 3/4 inches deep (19.69cm high x 15.24cm wide x 12.07cm deep).

Provenance: The piece boasts significant collecting history, including paper labels for the Russel S. Carter Collection (No. 615) and the Brooke Collection (No. 54). The high quality and distinguished provenance underscore its importance as a collectors' item, placing it among pieces that once belonged to celebrated English pottery collections. Mrs. Russell S. Carter gave a part of her collection of English pottery to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "A keen and discriminating collector, Mrs. Carter has succeeded in "bagging" a surprising number of exceptional pieces. Many of these were shown in important exhibitions in England in the past and were prized items in such well-known English collections as the Lomax, Sheldon, Clements, Griffith, Elliot, and Revelstoke. The Carter collection of one hundred and eighty pieces spans a wide range.....

Historical Context: Whieldon, Creamware, and Staffordshire Figures

The period between 1765 and 1785 was a dynamic time for English ceramics, centered in the Staffordshire potteries. This era saw the transition from darker, earlier earthenwares to the superior, lighter Creamware perfected by Josiah Wedgwood.

Thomas Whieldon and the Tortoise-Shell Glaze: The term "Whieldon-type" refers to the variegated, mottled glazes popularized by master potter Thomas Whieldon (1719–1795). Whieldon, who briefly employed a young Josiah Wedgwood, made a wide range of wares, including teapots and figures, often using this characteristic tortoise-shell effect. While the figure itself is creamware, the colored, dappled glaze links it stylistically to Whieldon's highly successful aesthetic before the full advent of pure white, undecorated creamware.

The Lion as a Motif: Ceramic animal figures, particularly the lion (a symbol of Great Britain), were extremely popular decorative objects for the home, often displayed on mantels or cabinets. These figures demonstrate the potters' growing ambition to move beyond simple utility and create affordable, fashionable decorative art for the burgeoning middle and upper classes, directly competing with more expensive porcelain factories.

This specific figure is an instructive example of Staffordshire's manufacturing innovation, representing a bridge between the colorful, complex earthenwares of the mid-century and the standardized creamware that would dominate European markets by the 1780s.

Reference
English Pottery: The Burnap Collection by The Frank P. and Harriot C. Burnap Collection of English Pottery in the William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of Art, 1953, Page 63, Catalogue Entry #311

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