This is a stunning late 19th century Staffordshire figure representing characters in the famous narrative poem by Robert Burns.
The figurine shows the poems hero, Tam O'Shanter and his friend Souter Johnnie drinking in a tavern.
Tam is certainly enjoying his drink and is about to leave the tavern and get on his trusty steed, Meg. On his way home, the inebriated Tam comes across a coven of witches and warlocks in Alloway kirkyard - and flees in terror. He manages to escape by crossing the Auld Brig - but sadly Meg's tail is grabbed by one of the witches and lost in the escape.
A classic Halloween tale.
This is a fine and very large figure - it measures12 ½ inches in height and has a width of 9 ½ inches.
A good weight to it - coming it at an unpacked weight of 2.1 kg.
The figure was made by Sampson & Smith at Longton, Staffordshire in the early 1890s.
There is a vent hole to the back.
It is in good condition - with no damages - there is a good bit of rubbing or clumsy painting to the lettering below - but that is the only issue. Love the wrong spelling of the word: Souter - which is lettered on the figurine as Sooter!
A souter is the Scots for a cobbler or shoemaker.
Sadly, the weight would limit this fine and most collectable figure to UK posting only.