Pair of Staffordshire Figurines of Dear Children on Very Large Goats

The figurines although not marked are more than likely from one of the Staffordshire potteries and indeed it is widely believed that they are the oldest children of Queen Victoria, The Princess Royal (Victoria 1840-1891) and The Prince of Wales (Prince Albert 1841-1910) the combination of children and goats were if you were fortunate enough not that unusual as goats were often used to pull young children around in little carriages. From the age of the children depicted I would imagine these figurines would date to circa 1855. It was painting of the figurines that I found so attractive, both children's faces are well painted as are their clothes, with the matching feathers in their hats and the delicate painting of the flowers on her skirt. The goats are both painted with a grey and orange wooly coat and they stand on oval bases with heather like foliage made from shredded clay which is also used wonderfully for their manes, beards and tails.