Bagpiper 1740 - 1750

"Bagpiper," a ceramic sculpture by John Astbury, depicts a man in traditional clothing playing a bagpipe. This piece, created between 1740 and 1750, is a fine example of Astbury's mastery of the Staffordshire pottery tradition. The figure is realistically rendered, with detailed facial features and clothing, and a rich brown and yellow glaze accentuates the figure's form. Astbury's ceramic figurines were popular in the 18th century, showcasing the emerging fashion for small-scale decorative objects. Now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this sculpture offers a glimpse into the artistry of 18th-century English ceramics and the evolving taste for figurative art.