Bocage figures were always given their own setting, usually bucolic with a tree from which leaves and flowers hung. Bocage or tree from the French meaning woodland, and were intended for an upmarket clientele since they were expensive and labor intensive and required great skill. They required many mold parts, glazes, paints and decoration. With their eyes on the upper class market the potters created figures that are bright, porcelain like, reminiscent of classical 18th Century porcelain figures and painted in colors that integrated the manganese glazes of earlier work with the apple greens unique to the 1820 period.

Little is known of John Waltons life, but his work has become famous and his name associated with these bocage figures. He was born in 1780 and he is listed in trade directories as early as 1818 and he is responsible for the Staffordshire term "Walton School" used to describe bocage figures without attribution.

This figure is made of pearl glazed earthenware and has overglaze enamel decoration which requires several firings. The base is oval and shows a grained texture, which is produced by using a stiff brush. Remember these figures were hand made and hand decorated. The figure stands 8" and is 6" wide. The condition is mint which is exceptional given the delicacy of the bocage and fact that it is the place where most restorations occur. I have taken a picture of the back to show what a completely unrestored bocage should look like. This figure is charming, note the daisys in the bit of the donkey's mouth on both sides,the detail of Mary's dress and the mantle and shawl of St joseph. This figure is a collectors treasure and is a twin to the Walton figure "The Flight Into Egypt" which shows a similar grouping with an infant. This figure is an outstanding addition to any Staffordshire collection.