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Flat Back Figure of Collier and Smith
Flat Back Figure of Collier and Smith
Flat Back Figure of Collier and Smith

Flat Back Figure of Collier and Smith

Datec. 1866
Object NameFigure
Mediumearthenware
ClassificationsCeramics
DimensionsOverall: Height: 32.5 cm, Width: 20 cm
AcquisitionThe Catherine Fleming Collection, 1994.
LocationOn Display - Gallery 18
Object numberABDMS024006
Keywords
About MeDouble flat back figure representing the murder of Thomas Smith by William Collier at Kingsley, Staffordshire in 1866, figures are set against an arch of foliage with their inside arms extended to each other's necks as in a struggle. A dog leaps up at the right hand figure.

Collier was hanged for the murder of Thomas Smith, who besides being a gamekeeper was the son of the local lord of the manor. Smith was shot, then beaten to death with the gunstock. Collier, a well-known poacher, was the obvious suspect, and the murder weapon was found hidden in a drainpipe near his home.
He was condemend to death. However was subject to an initially botched hanging attempt when the rope that was first used failed, and he fell into the pit below. He was immediatley successfully hanged with a fresh rope, although everyone on the scaffold was booed and hissed by the crowd of 2,000, because even an execution audience didn’t like watching a botched job.

More About Me
Look closely, can you see the fallen birds that look like discarded parsnips? It’s hard to imagine a gamekeeper being so concerned over a few pilfered root vegetables.
Exhibitions