In the 18th and 19th century every house had a fireplace, and therefore a mantlepiece, and in the grander houses, several mantlepieces. These would be decorated with all manner of things from clocks, candlesticks, photograph frames and pottery and brass ornaments.
 
Hundreds of pottery factories were set up in staffordshire during the Victorian period, many of them producing crude, colourfull figures, sold to decorate the more humble households. In a dark cottage in winter they must have seems so bright and joyful, there colours brightening all rooms from kitchen to bed chamber.

This is a comical figure of two men sat on a tree stump. The hollowed tree stump would serve as a spill holder. Spills were the long thin pieces of wood used to light the fire.
 
The figure is in good condition with no chiops or cracks.
 
Dimensions: 13cm wide, 9.5cm deep and 18cm high.