Hen in Nest, William Kent, Old Staffordshire Ware, Hand Painted Enamels, Antique, Made in England, 1891-1920s

This William Kent Hen in Nest, hand-painted in Old Staffordshire earthenware, has been sitting in her nest since somewhere between 1891 and the early 1920s — and she has lost none of her dignity.

• Maker: William Kent (Porcelains) Ltd, Burslem, Staffordshire, England
• Materials: Earthenware, hand-painted enamels
• Dimensions: approx. 4.5" tall x 5.25" long x 4.0" deep
• Origin: England
• Era: Antique, 1891–early 1920s (based on backstamp and glaze characteristics)
• Condition: Very good antique condition. Small area of missing color on the hen's crest, minor and consistent with age. No chips, cracks, crazing, or scratches. Please review photos closely before purchasing, as all sales are final.

The lid — the hen herself — lifts off to reveal the woven nest bowl beneath, perfect for candies, jewelry, or small treasures. A serious find for the Staffordshire collector, the antique pottery enthusiast, or anyone drawn to a documented piece with real history behind it.

Every detail here is crisp and confident — the feathers layered in the deeply applied, fluidly worked enamels characteristic of early Kent production, the combed and streaked brushwork on the base consistent with pieces dated 1890–1910s, and the backstamp, Old Staffordshire Ware, England, placing this piece precisely between 1891 and the early 1920s, before Made in England became the standard mark. Mold number 161, painted on the base, differs from the Box Hen #159 shown in William Kent's 1955 catalog, suggesting this is an earlier production mold. William Kent established his pottery, originally called Novelty Works, in Burslem, Staffordshire in 1890, and built it into one of the most recognized names in English earthenware figures, dogs, Toby jugs, and novelty pieces. The Hen in Nest remained in continuous production through multiple generations of the Kent family, until the company ceased making earthenware figures entirely at the end of 1962 — making authentic early pieces like this one increasingly rare and collectible.

We also carry a Bordallo Pinheiro majolica hen in nest and a hen-in-nest tureen with baby chicks — browse our Hen in Nest collection to compare styles across eras.