Antique Staffordshire Highland Ghillie Figure

Cutting such a romantic figure, it's no wonder that the ghillie is one of the most popular motifs among Staffordshire figurines. We are so pleased to present this striking arrival that was part of a beloved lifelong collection found in northern England. Resplendent in fancy dress alongside his loyal hunting companion and triumphantly toting a bountiful catch of fowl and game, this dashing Antique Staffordshire Highland Ghillie remains on alert, clasping his shotgun.

Whether serving the high chieftain or guiding the season’s stalk or stag hunt, the ghillie or gillie has been a symbol of rugged masculinity and loyalty for centuries. Derived from the Scots Gaelic gille, meaning a young man or older boy who works as an outdoor servant, the ghillie is often depicted in literature as gamekeeper, guide and attendant to a Scottish laird.

Produced to meet demand by middle-class Victorians for stylish and status-communicating home decor as the Industrial Revolution created increased wealth, the Staffordshire flat back and figurine craze became a trend that lasted more than 50 years. The vast majority of these decorative, hand-painted figurines were produced by Staffordshire potteries to imitate the more exclusive and expensive Meissen and Nymphenburg figurines being produced on the continent of Europe and found in the homes of the upper-class.

With the Victorian maxim that more is never enough, any surface that could hold a figurine - mantel, curio cabinet, vanity, table, etagere - could surely hold more!  And more was always more for the Victorians - on both sides of the Atlantic.

In the pottery factories of Victoria England, as experienced decorators worked on higher-end porcelain, those classified as unskilled (typically women and children), painted these colorful Staffordshire figurines. Decorated quickly and freely by hand, the result is a folk-art quality that adds to their charming appeal and naïve quality.

Painted in a vibrant palette, this debonair seated ghillie and his hound appear ready to spring at the slightest sign of movement. At once sentimental and timeless, this beautiful example from Staffordshire's celebrated history is sure to bring a touch of elegance to your home for decades to come.

Strictly one-of-a-kind and subject to prior sale. Circa 1850s. In very good antique condition with only minimal paint loss as is common in antique Staffordshire. 15.25"H x 7.875"W.