English Staffordshire ceramic covered tobacco box in the form of a military officer
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
19th century
This English Staffordshire ceramic tobacco box is designed as a whimsical character bust depicting a 19th-century military officer. The object serves as a covered container, with the officer's bicorne hat forming the removable lid, which rests upon the shoulders and head of the figure.
The ceramic piece is hand-painted, featuring defined facial features, colorful uniform details including epaulettes, and a prominent purple plume on the hat. Measuring 5 1/4 by 3 3/4 by 8 inches, this decorative container exemplifies the 19th-century tradition of Staffordshire character pottery designed for functional yet aesthetic use in a domestic setting. The sculptural form is stylized, with bold lines and a glazed finish typical of the region's production during that era.
It serves as both a sculptural portrait and a utilitarian vessel intended for the storage of tobacco, blending industrial ceramic techniques with artistic folk-art styling commonly found in Victorian-era English decorative wares.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- ceramic
- Dimensions
- 5 1/4 x 3 3/4 x 8 in
Design
- Motif
- military officer character bust
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.