Roman Charity chimney ornament, unknown maker from England, United Kingdom

Archive Label 1999:
Chimney ornaments were mass produced in Staffordshire in vast numbers for middle-class homes. They were extremely popular throughout the 19th century and often portrayed story-telling scenes or famous persons such as Queen Victoria or George Washington. The incredible speed with which the artisans were required to paint these figurines is evident here, especially in the hasty-looking dabs of paint around the base.

Exhibition Label:
"Staffordshire Chimney Ornaments from the Nineteenth Century in the Collection of The University of Kansas Museum of Art," Jun-1973, Lea Rosson
This piece is a type found in works by the Wood family, and it displays the enamel overglaze technique used by that firm after ca. 1770. Figures of a woman, a young child, an infant, and an old man make up the group which is identified as "Roman Charity" by a small label near the back. The roundish, broad-based piece is hollow.