A RARE BLASHFIELD TERRACOTTA STATUE OF CERES, DATED 1871

A RARE BLASHFIELD TERRACOTTA STATUE OF CERES
DATED 1871
On an associated Blashfield pedestal stand, figure with hand inscribed signature J M Blashfield, Stamford, 1871, base stamped Published by J M Blashfield Stamford 1869
Figure 166cm high, approximately 252.5cm high overall, base 50cm wide, 49.5cm deep

In 1857 Blashfield published "A catalogue of five hundred articles, made of patent Terra cotta". By 1860 and with the growing success of his business his catalogue ran to 700 items "made in patent terra cotta, and red and cane-coloured pottery."

As well as the more domestic wide range of garden ornaments such as urns, pedestals, architectural fittings and fountains, many of these catalogue items were copies of classical pieces- working in the tradition of Coade.

This figure seems to be unrecorded in the Blashfield publications suggesting it may be a one off commission- a suggestion strengthened with the presence of a hand scratched signature and date- rather than the more familiar stamped mark as found on the pedestal.