Bugler in military dress 1745 - 1755

This is an earthenware figure of a Bugler in military dress, likely made in the mid-18th century by the Astbury-Whieldon factory in Staffordshire, England. At just 6 1/2 inches tall, the statuette offers a glimpse into the visual culture of its time. Consider the backdrop: it's an era defined by burgeoning colonial expansion and military conflicts. This little bugler, frozen in time, evokes a sense of the pomp and circumstance associated with military life. Yet, what stories remain untold in this representation? The figure's somewhat generic features and the stylized depiction of his uniform perhaps reveal more about the desires of its consumer than the realities of military service. This work invites reflection on the lives of ordinary soldiers, the human cost of empire, and the narratives that art chooses to preserve.