Set Of Three Bear-shaped Syrup Pitchers, Joseph Holdcroft, Circa 1875

A rare, complete set of three Victorian majolica syrup pitchers, shaped like bears, made by the famous English potter Joseph Holdcroft in Longton, Staffordshire, around 1875.

The set includes all three sizes of Holdcroft’s whimsical bear design: small, medium, and large. Each brown bear is seated in a lively pose and holds a large ladle that forms the rim and neck of the pitcher. A separate honey spoon, attached to the back, forms the handle, while the bear’s open mouth serves as the spout. The expressive faces, paws, and textured fur demonstrate a particularly naturalistic modeling style.

All three pitchers retain their bright pink majolica interiors. Each unglazed base bears the deeply stamped workshop mark “LILI.” Graded sets comprising all three sizes are rare, particularly when all the teeth are intact.

Dimensions: Large pitcher: height 34 cm, width 16 cm, depth 23 cm, weight 2,290 g. Medium pitcher: height 29 cm, width 13 cm, depth 19 cm, weight 1,700 g. Small pitcher: height 21.5 cm, width 10 cm, depth 14.5 cm, weight 767 g.

Condition: All three pitchers are in excellent vintage condition and have been examined under UV light. All spouts are intact.

Please examine the attached photographs carefully, as they are an integral part of this description. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them. The item will be shipped with full tracking and insurance.