The Boy with the Leaking Boot — Willow Art China c.1918–1925

A finely modelled piece of Staffordshire crested china depicting The Boy with the Leaking Boot, the well-known statue in Cleethorpes. The white glazed porcelain figure shows the boy holding his leaking boot by its cord, standing on a square pedestal decorated with gilt edging and the Cleethorpes civic device, with the motto “Vigilantes”.

The original statue was presented to Cleethorpes in 1918 by John Carlbom and installed in the gardens at Kingsway, where it became a familiar seaside landmark.

The base bears the manufacturer's mark “Willow Art China Longton”, incorporating a distinctive willow tree device. Willow Art China was the trade name used by Hewitt & Leadbeater of Longton, and subsequently by Hewitt Brothers, whose crested china was particularly associated with miniature souvenirs and heraldic designs. The Willow Art China mark was used approximately 1907–1925, making c.1918–1925 a reasonable date for this example.

From the collection of Grimsby & Cleethorpes Museum.