TOPIC:

The German figurine of DelaRey on Neville's magnificent music box is rather similar to the figurine produced between 1880 and 1895 by the firm Legras & Cie for the Bonbon producer Tavernier to sell its products in. This large (40 cm tall) container looks like ceramic but is in fact painted glass and depicts Joubert "Chef Des Boers"

Everhard,

I wrote a piece about these a year or so ago, wrongly assuming they were of ABW vintage. I hadn't realised that Joubert was prominent enough to be considered suitable material for merchandising purposes during the Majuba period.
I had, however, questioned whether Tavernier could have still been active in 1900, as he would have been 88 by then, and suggested that his son, also a confectioner named John, could have continued the business.

I see now that Tavernier's opal glass Kruger bonbon jar must have been made before 1894, as another in the series depicts Czar Alexander III, who died that year. It also explains why Joubert and Kruger look too young!

See Bonbons John Tavernier

Tavernier is an interesting character. He was born in Plymouth, and lived in Bethnal Green, London, until he was at least forty. In France he was described as "un Anglais qui importe des «drops» sur le continent" (1891 poster). He was therefore a Brit selling sweets in France with pro-Boer packaging.

..

With the onset of the war, Robinson and Leadbeater, of Stoke-on-Trent, added a series of seven busts of British Generals to their catalogue. This company specialised in Parian ware, a form of porcelain that mimicked the fine white marbles found on the Greek Island of Paros. The copyright dates for these pieces run from 30 October 1899 (Buller) through to 16 March 1900 (Macdonald).

The busts were modelled by W.C. Lawton, each being marked "BY W C LAWTON SCULPT / COPYRIGHT / [FEB 24TH 1900] / R & L". They were available with or without an additional square plinth.

1. GENERAL BULLER, OCT 30 1899
2. LORD ROBERTS, JAN 1900
3. BADEN POWELL, JAN 16 1900
4. LORD KITCHENER, FEB 7 1900
5. GENERAL WHITE, FEB 24 1900
6. GENERAL FRENCH, MARCH 2 1900
7. GEN MACDONALD, MARCH 16 1900


A much larger, 21-inch high bust of Lord Roberts, sculpted by A. Hopkins, was added to the R&L South African War range in July 1900. See R. Dennis, The Parian Phenomenon (1989), p. 229.

A second version of the Kitchener bust, with the title "SIR H. KITCHENER" opposed to "LORD KITCHENER" and looking somewhat younger, was presumably made to commemorate his services during the Soudan Campaign.








R&L also produced glazed versions of the above, though these pieces are scarcer. It seems odd that Robinson & Leadbeater decided to glaze some of the busts, as their strength lay in their production of Parian ware, a material that was immensely popular during the late Victorian period. So, why cover this over?





Full length models of Lord Roberts and Baden-Powell were also available, though the latter figure is hardly ever seen and must have been produced in very limited numbers. The Lord Roberts figure came in two sizes, the example below being the smaller version.






.. Boer war pottery, Boer war china, boer war ceramics, boer war porcelain

A limited number of ABW-related Parian pieces were produced in Europe. This bust of de Wet was sculpted by Belgian artist Frans Joris, when the General visited Antwerp after the war. Reverse inscribed: "door den / beeldhouwer F. Joris, / 20 September 1902. / Antwerpen" [by the / sculptor F. Joris / 20 September 1902 / Antwerp] Side inscribed: "naar het leven" [from life].

With maker's mark for Porzellanfabrik Carl Schneider's Erben, Gräfenthal, a German factory that also made bisque figures for the UK market.


Manchester Evening News, 20th September 1902

THE BOER GENERALS IN BELGIUM.

Antwerp, Friday [19 September].
Generals Botha, Delarey, and De Wet arrived here at three o’clock this afternoon. They were received by the President of the Boer Committee. A crowd of people had assembled at the station, and gave the Generals a hearty ovation.


Guernsey Evening Press and Star, 23rd September 1902

General De Wet, who was always so averse to being photographed, has consented to give a sitting for a bust to a sculptor in Antwerp.
























.. Boer war pottery, Boer war china, boer war ceramics, boer war porcelain

Below are a few examples of Boers depicted as Boars, a popular device used by British caricaturists at this time.








Western Times, 25th May 1900

DEVON COUNTY SHOW.

Specimens of the celebrated Barnstaple ware from Mr W.L. BARON’s own potteries are being exhibited at Stand 72, and the display is certainly one of the most interesting in the industrial section. Among the novelties are specimens of Kruger (the old Boar), which are very cleverly designed for match boxes [stands], jugs, &c. A very unique article in its way is the puzzle jug, which puzzles the ingenuity of the man to drink out of, yet it is quite possible to do so, and very agreeably too. There are also curious and grotesque ware in the shape of watch stands, candlesticks, fern pots and teapots. The specimens of drawing-room ware are remarkable for their rich colouring and artistic design. As souvenirs of North Devon the ware makes useful presents.
















Khaki Copeland teapot and milk jug, with representation of a Union Jack above a dead boar, and a ribbon inscribed "SOUTH AFRICA 1900". Reverse with depiction of a striding British Lion, and the words "1899 TRANSVAAL WAR 1900". Base of each with impressed maker's mark "COPELAND ENGLAND".





A pair of unmarked jugs, each with a portrayal of a lion (representing the British Empire), standing triumphant, with two dead boars (representing the two Boer republics) under its feet. Reverse with crossed Union Jack and Royal Standard, surmounted with the imperial crown. Base impressed: "England RD 378526".








.... Boer war pottery, Boer war china, boer war ceramics, boer war porcelain

Below are a few Continental pieces, which portray President Kruger in a somewhat more favourable light.





























.. Boer war pottery, Boer war china, boer war ceramics, boer war porcelain