This colourful bird figure is one of a number of ornamental figurines in the Harris collection – many of which were made in Staffordshire. This example is beautifully modelled and painted and must have been expensive to buy. Others Staffordshire figures are much simpler – made by pressing a sheet of damp clay into a simple mould. The Potteries were notorious in the 1800s for employing child workers to make simple Staffordshire figures. There is huge variety in the quality and subject matter of this type of ceramic – which can range from biblical and mythological characters, to romantic shepherds and even famous murderers of the day.