Imagine the gilded age of a nation reflected in hundreds of earthenware figures, each with its own story to tell. This book offers an in-depth study of the cultural, socio-economic, religious, political, and technological history that defined the British Empire in the 19th century. This meticulously researched volume is infused with the real-life stories of the potters, their subjects, and people who lived with these historical figurines. Each chapter is a self-contained study of the Staffordshire potteries where they were made, the potters who created them, and of the characters themselves, including spaniels and other animals, the English monarchy, religious symbols, children, heroes, rouges, architecture and much more. Included are over 550 superb color photographs of Staffordshire figures (some previously unrecorded) and detailed captions with values. This is an essential reference for collectors, dealers, designers, historians, curators, and all who love antique ceramics.