Fireplace figurine 'Garibaldi astride a horse'

• England, stoneware, glazed and painted,
  around 1860;
  height: 38 cm

The fireplace figurine 'Garibaldi astride a horse' is among the Staffordshire pieces manufactured in England. The Italian freedom fighter Guiseppe Garibaldi (1807-1882) was immensely popular throughout Europe in the period around 1860. At the time, a 'Garibaldi astride a horse' will have cost six shillings at weekly markets and annual fairs. So purchasing this kind of fireplace figurine was not a significant investment.

The wives of mariners liked to decorate their 'front' parlours with souvenirs like this one, arranging them in groups on chests, sideboards and fireplaces. The fireplace figurine of Garibaldi comes from a seafaring household in Gager, Rügen.

Staffordshire figurines are also known as 'flat back figures'. This is attributable to the flat surfaces on the back of the figurines, which were left unpainted in order to save costs.