Posted 13 years ago
steamshoes
(2 items)
recently aquired from a friend who was given it as a child from the house keeper of Inchory Lodge in Tomintoul,scotland when Colonel haig had died and his wife was emptying the house,friend is now 63 and he was given this amongst many other interesting items which would have been destroyed. elephant has no makers name on it as far as I can see and the name jumbo appears on the base.just short of eleven inches tall and breakage and crack free.would like to know the history/maker,etc of these pieces and were they part of a large set,ie. any more of this size to collect. email address is lynne.mahoney65@btinternet.com Colonel Haig had a very colourful history the best of which is remebered as the Haig whisky empire
This looks like a English Staffordshire figure of Jumbo.
On the net you will find similar examples but not a black one that I have seen.
These figures are very expensive and I would say widely faked too.
Perhaps you need to seek expert advice on this one.
"Jumbo was obtained by London Zoo in 1865 as a two year old, where he became a favorite attraction."
There seems to be reference to a similar piece illustrated figure 2937, page 246, Schiffer's 'Victorian Staffordshire Figures 1835-1875' Book 2, by A.& N. Harding.
thank you,very interesting, knowing the history and the dead owner who served in the Boar war and his travels,grand tours etc and the amount of dead animals he brought home to be stuffed I would not see this as being a fake somehow.thanks again