Description
Staffordshire Flatback Spill Vase
This lovely example of a Staffordshire flatback spill vase is comparatively richly decorated. You often find the same mould-made pieces with relatively little adornment in terms of hand painted decoration, but this one has a full covering and shows that the painter was skilled at her (these pieces were almost always decorated by women) art.
The function of the spill vase was to sit on your mantelpiece and hold the spills by which you would light your fire.
The figure on this piece is carrying the spoils of her (or someone else’s) hunting. She has a rabbit under her right arm and a bird under her left. Her skirt is decorated with a stripe and dot pattern and the tree trunk that makes up the opening for the spills is covered with brown and green glaze. Her face is particularly carefully decorated.
As is the tradition with flatbacks the reverse is entirely plain (as this would have been facing the wall and therefore not visible).
In good condition with no chips or cracks.
Measurements:
Height: 28.2cm
Width: 16.5cm
Depth (front to back): 6.7cm