Royal Worcester and James Hadley

James Hadley is described by John Sandon as "probably the finest English modeller of all time". Able to work in any form or style required, he is best known for his decorative figures made in the 1870s and 1880s for Royal Worcester.

Royal Worcester Figural Spill Vase modelled by James Hadley c1889

In the 1850s Hadley was apprenticed to Kerr and Binns (subsequently Royal Worcester) where he worked in the modelling department and by 1870 had become principal modeller there. In 1875 he left the company and set up his own studio and although no longer directly employed by Royal Worcester he sold almost his complete output of models for ornamental vases and figures to them.

This early spill holder modelled as a Kate Greenaway style girl is a classic example of a James Hadley design. For more details see Premier Antiques