English Staffordshire Pottery Robert Burns and his Mary Flatback Spill Vase

DETAILS A large antique Staffordshire figure group of Robert Burns (1759-96) and Mary Campbell (1763-86), who is also known as his Highland Mary. The figure of Robert Burns stands with with his arm around Mary, with a tree trunk form spill vase behind them. Note the vivid polychrome glazes. A spill vase was designed to sit on a mantelpiece and hold rolled paper tapers or thin wood splints which were used to transfer fire to light the fireplace or other candles. Matches at the time were very expensive so they were used sparingly. LITERATURE P. D. Gordon Pugh, Staffordshire Portrait Figures, page H498 STYLE Victorian PLACE OF ORIGIN England | United Kingdom PATTERN/MODEL Burns and his Mary MARKS No maker's mark. Title plaque (base): BURNS / AND HIS / MARY. PERIOD Queen Victoria (1837-1901) | Mid 19th century DATE Circa 1850-60 DIMENSIONS Width 7.75 Depth 4.25 Height 12.25 inches CONDITION Note: restored. Mary's head is an old replacement taken from another Staffordshire figure titled La