Staffordshire pottery pearlware figure group Gretna Green early 19th century

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£1500

Dated: 1820 Staffordshire England

Pearlware bocage type figures group commemorating the New Marriage Act. This group shows a couple wed by the blacksmith at Gretna Green a small hamlet just over the border from England in Scotland. The plaque reads "John Macdonald Aged 79, a Scottish esquire run of with an English girl aged 17 to Gretna Green the old blacksmith to be married" The spelling mistakes are those of the Staffordshire potters! Such events were known as anvil weddings and enabled couples over 16 to be wed with the presence of two witnesses. This amusing figure is well modelled on a square base showing the loving couple wed by the Blacksmith over the anvil which is surrounded by his tools of the trade. The open bible sits on the anvil. The figure would have caused much amusement at the time as it still does to this day.

Dimensions: 8 inches high

Current Condition: Minor bocage leaves,, grooms arm and hand, brides bonnet restored

Literature: Staffordshire Figures Volume 4 Chapter 139 author Myrna Schkolne

£1500    $1724

Description

Pearlware bocage type figures group commemorating the New Marriage Act.
This group shows a couple wed by the blacksmith at Gretna Green a small hamlet just over the border from England in Scotland. The plaque reads “John Macdonald Aged 79, a Scottish esquire run of with an English girl aged 17 to Gretna Green the old blacksmith to be married” The spelling mistakes are those of the Staffordshire potters! Such events were known as anvil weddings and enabled couples over 16 to be wed with the presence of two witnesses.
This amusing figure is well modelled on a square base showing the loving couple wed by the Blacksmith over the anvil which is surrounded by his tools of the trade. The open bible sits on the anvil. The figure would have caused much amusement at the time as it still does to this day.

Additional information

Dimensions 8 in