Despite introduction of the commercially successful flatback (modeled and decorated only in the front with flat backs designed for placement on mantelpieces), one mid-nineteenth century potter, Thomas Parr, maintained a high standard of artistic integrity and produced figures that were finely modeled and decorated in the round. Parr pulled figure making from the quicksand of commercialism, and his work fit into the broader spectrum of the arts, returning truth to medium and ennobling craftsmanship. But Parr was singular and, although the figure-making industry remained strong through all of Victoria's long reign (1837-1901), quality declined substantially by the 1880's. Ubiquitous Spaniels, portraits, and nearly all types of figures took on a "formula" look, and once-vibrant colors were replaced by simple white and gilt decoration. By the time of World War I, figure making had become passé.
