ANTIQUE SHEEP FIGURINES
Hetty Purbrick
What I collect For many years I have collected antique Staffordshire and continental porcelain or earthenware sheep figurines, dating from the early 19th to the early 20th century. Made as decorative objects they would often take pride of place on a mantel or shelf, fashionably set either side of a clock, in a Georgian or Victorian home.
Why I collect The sheep are affordable folk art, an art form I love. I like the granulated texture of their coats, but most of all I love their crazy, quizzical faces. Every face is different with its own unique personality. I have a carefully curated flock on a beautiful glass shelf just above my bath, and they are one of the first things I see at the beginning of each day – they never fail to put a big smile on my face.
How I collect I snap them up whenever I see them on my travels, or when I’m sourcing stock for my vintage and decorative antiques business (Instagram @hetty_purbrick). I also keep an eye out at fleamarkets and antiques fairs, and sometimes find them on Ebay too. I’ve been collecting sheep for over 20 years, so a large number have passed through my hands, but I’m realistic about how many I can have at any one time.
My collection highlight My latest acquisition is a large ram on a blue base (left) – I’ve never seen one like it before and I’ll enjoy researching him. I’m always upgrading my collection but have been careful to set myself a price limit of £50. Often worth much more than this, pieces can be picked up for as little as £1, a price that often reflects chips, cracks or a mismatched pair – something that doesn’t put me off. I recently found one at this price at a fleamarket hidden at the bottom of a box of vintage china – he’s now happily settled in with his new flock.