Mid-20th Century English Ceramic Pitcher with Squirrel Handle
An unusual and charming English ceramic pitcher manufactured by Stanford Ware Co., London, featuring a distinctive combination of naturalistic decoration and richly contrasting colors. The piece is beautifully modeled with a generous, rounded body that tapers gracefully toward the neck, finished with a wide, flared rim and a substantial circular foot. The exterior is decorated in a luminous yellow glaze, complemented by a deep cobalt blue interior and matching blue accents along the rim and base.
The most distinctive feature is the sculptural handle, fashioned as a beautifully modeled squirrel climbing along the side of the vessel. The three-dimensional animal is rendered in warm amber and golden brown tones, with carefully defined facial features, textured fur, and a naturally curved posture that follows the contour of the pitcher. Adding further visual interest, delicate brown tree branches extend vertically across the yellow body, creating a woodland-inspired composition that harmonizes with the sculptural squirrel handle.
The combination of molded ornamentation, hand-applied decorative details, and contrasting glazed surfaces gives this piece considerable decorative appeal. Its playful interpretation of nature, together with its distinctive English ceramic craftsmanship, makes it an attractive example of decorative pottery produced by Stanford Ware Co. in London during the mid-20th century.
Both sculptural and functional in character, this pitcher would make an appealing addition to a collection of English decorative ceramics and would display beautifully in a traditional or eclectic interior. It can also be used as an ornamental vessel or as a distinctive accent for a tabletop, kitchen, or country house setting. The pitcher measures 7 3/4 inches tall and approximately 6.5 inches in diameter.
An unusual and charming English ceramic pitcher manufactured by Stanford Ware Co., London, featuring a distinctive combination of naturalistic decoration and richly contrasting colors. The piece is beautifully modeled with a generous, rounded body that tapers gracefully toward the neck, finished with a wide, flared rim and a substantial circular foot. The exterior is decorated in a luminous yellow glaze, complemented by a deep cobalt blue interior and matching blue accents along the rim and base.
The most distinctive feature is the sculptural handle, fashioned as a beautifully modeled squirrel climbing along the side of the vessel. The three-dimensional animal is rendered in warm amber and golden brown tones, with carefully defined facial features, textured fur, and a naturally curved posture that follows the contour of the pitcher. Adding further visual interest, delicate brown tree branches extend vertically across the yellow body, creating a woodland-inspired composition that harmonizes with the sculptural squirrel handle.
The combination of molded ornamentation, hand-applied decorative details, and contrasting glazed surfaces gives this piece considerable decorative appeal. Its playful interpretation of nature, together with its distinctive English ceramic craftsmanship, makes it an attractive example of decorative pottery produced by Stanford Ware Co. in London during the mid-20th century.
Both sculptural and functional in character, this pitcher would make an appealing addition to a collection of English decorative ceramics and would display beautifully in a traditional or eclectic interior. It can also be used as an ornamental vessel or as a distinctive accent for a tabletop, kitchen, or country house setting. The pitcher measures 7 3/4 inches tall and approximately 6.5 inches in diameter.