Enamelled Pearlware Sheep Bocage Figurine Recumbent Ram Poss Ralph Salt Antique c 1820

A very charming antique enamelled English pearlware figurine of a recumbent ram with bocage.  This contented looking fellow has long scrolling horns around his iron red to brown coloured ears. He is lying on a small oval shaped mound that has been painted green and has very distinctive scroll end decoration. His fleece and tail are well modelled with an irregular indentation that simulates his wool. There are a few areas of extruded clay "grass" and he is sat in front short tree with six, double sided six leafed "star" foliage each with a central coloured applied flower. This foliage has been applied to a short trunk with four symmetrical splaying branches. This type of tree decoration is normally termed "Bocage".

This delightful figure appears to be unmarked but, is of a form that we have seen marked "Salt" usually on an applied ribbon scroll. Ralph Salt operated from circa 1820 until 1846 from Marsh Street, Hanley, Staffordshire, England. There is a small section on the back that could possibly be their mark but, it is filled with coloured glaze and is indistinct. 

The main body is slip cast with additional modelled features such as the horns, grass and bocage. This lovely antique sheep figurine dates from around 1820 at the end of the Regency period, in the early 19th century, and during the reign of King George IV. 

Item condition: In good antique condition. Some minor "museum" type restorations or repairs.  The ends of both horns and the whole right hand double leaf star and flower. There are some minor chips to the extruded grass decoration. Please see the images. 

This is a great antique item to add to any collection of early Staffordshire figures, sheep, enamelled pearlware figurines, Georgian or early 19th century pottery.

Height 5 3/4 inches ( 14.8 cm)
Depth 2 5/8 inches ( 8.7 cm)
Width 5 inches ( 12.7 cm)
Weight 295 grammes unpacked.

References:
An Encyclopaedia of British Pottery and Porcelain Marks by  G. A. Godden
http://www.earlystaffordshirefigures.com/8-ralph-salt.html#