Bear figurine

myminifactory

This bear figurine boasts a remarkably bloody legacy. In 18th-century Europe, bear-baiting was a wildly popular spectacle that drew in huge crowds, with bears being ubiquitous figures on public display and objects of intense fascination. A vast array of bear-themed merchandise was produced, including jugs, vases, plates, and statues - all bearing witness to the bears' suffering, which went largely unacknowledged. This item originated in Nottinghamshire, a region renowned for its English pottery industry at the time. Interestingly, both bear-baiting and English potting experienced a simultaneous decline; by the 19th century, the cruelty of bear-baiting had finally been acknowledged, leading to its ban. As domestic tastes shifted from English-made goods to more affordable, exotic items from continental Europe.