Antique Staffordshire pottery pair of figures Douglas and Billy Waters

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£4850

Dated: 1820 Staffordshire English

A rare Staffordshire pottery pair of pearlware figures "Douglas and Billy Waters". Billy Waters is by far the most famous of the duo but the figure of "Douglas" is a much rarer figure. Douglas was the title of a play which ran at the Adelphi Theatre in London. Billy Waters was as a beggar on the streets of London where he played the violin to entertain theatre-goers in exchange for halfpennies. It is thought that he was once a slave in America who traded his servitude to be a British sailor. His striking image was established by his African ancestry, a naval uniform, his peg leg, his violin and the addition of a feathered hat. Waters had lost his leg as a sailor in the navy.although other sources imply he lost it whilst fighting in the American War of Independence. He had a wife and two children to support and in the 1780s he would busk outside the Adelphi Theatre in London.Waters and his "peculiar antics" became so famous that he was asked to appear on stage as himself at the Adelphi and it is likely that he was invited to perform at some point during the Douglas play.

Dimensions: 6.75 inches high

Current Condition: Some good professional restorations.

£4850    $6547

Description

A rare Staffordshire pottery pair of pearlware figures “Douglas and Billy Waters”.
Billy Waters is by far the most famous of the duo but the figure of “Douglas” is a much rarer figure.
Douglas was the title of a play which ran at the Adelphi Theatre in London.
Billy Waters was as a beggar on the streets of London where he played the violin to entertain theatre-goers in exchange for halfpennies. It is thought that he was once a slave in America who traded his servitude to be a British sailor. His striking image was established by his African ancestry, a naval uniform, his peg leg, his violin and the addition of a feathered hat. Waters had lost his leg as a sailor in the navy.although other sources imply he lost it whilst fighting in the American War of Independence. He had a wife and two children to support and in the 1780s he would busk outside the Adelphi Theatre in London.Waters and his “peculiar antics” became so famous that he was asked to appear on stage as himself at the Adelphi and it is likely that he was invited to perform at some point during the Douglas play.

Additional information

Dimensions 6.75 in