Staffordshire Spaniel Inkwell

Composition and Theme

• Type: Figural pottery inkstand.
• Subject: The composition features a Spaniel dog seated next to a barrel, representing a playful domestic theme often associated with the Staffordshire factories.
• Arrangement: The two primary elements—the dog and the barrel—are modeled together on a single, oval base.
  • The barrel is the inkwell, with a hole on the top rim.
  • The dog, a sitting Spaniel, wearing a bright red collar is the decorative element.
  • A pen or quill holder is integrated into the piece, positioned to the side of the barrel.

Materials and Decoration

• Body Material: The piece is made of earthenware and coated with a pearlware glaze. Pearlware, popular from the late 18th to the mid-19th century, is characterized by a slightly bluish-tinged glaze (due to a small addition of cobalt oxide), which gives the white areas a cooler, clearer look compared to creamware.
• Coloration: The decoration is entirely hand-painted, utilizing a palette typical of the period, which includes:
  • The Spaniel: Painted with russet/brown or black patches to define its coat, with distinct black muzzles, eyes, and details. The molding highlights the dog’s floppy ears and textured fur.
  • The Barrel: Painted to resemble wood.
  • The Base: The base is distinguished by the use of sponge application (or “splatterware” or “sponge-ware”). This technique involves dabbing a sponge loaded with color—green, blue, or brown—onto the base to create a mottled or speckled background, framing the figures above.

The Spaniel Dog

The sitting dog is specifically modeled after the King Charles Spaniel or its larger relative, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, both being highly favored pets of the English upper classes and royalty, which made them a ubiquitous subject for Staffordshire potters. The dog’s pose is attentive and symmetrical, with a slight look of solemnity characteristic of these dog figures.

This combination of pearlware, hand-painted figures, and sponge-ware base is highly indicative of the Staffordshire pottery district from approximately 1830 to 1860.