A Staffordshire flatback depicting Saint George and the Dragon, pottery, circa 1860
Saint George is the patron saint of England, with his feast day traditionally celebrated on 23 April (Saint George’s Day). He is most often associated with an 11th-century legend wherein he rescues a princess and defeats a dragon. Here he is depicted on horseback, helmeted and with sword in hand, vanquishing the dragon beneath the hooves of his steed.
Condition: There is a tiny graze to the horse’s ear and some flaking to the black enamel. The gilt decoration is good, with only minor wear from handling. There is expected crazing to the glaze. No restoration. From manufacture, there are a few firing cracks, including to the top of George’s helmet and the fold in his cloak. Also from manufacture, the bluish glaze has pooled in places, collecting small patches of kiln dust and grit on the base.
Dimensions: Height 34.5 cm; Width (across the base) 15.4 cm, (from the edge of the cloak to the dragon’s head) 19 cm; Depth (across the base) 9.2 cm
Staffordshire Portrait Figures of the Victorian Era, P.D. Gordon Pugh (Antique Collectors’ Club, 1988).