This ornament was made around 1840 and is modelled a typical fishwife of the East Coast fishing ports, such as Portobello or Fisherrow. It could have been made at any of a number of potteries from Portobello to Prestonpans.

This is an ornament of a fishwife wearing her traditional dress. Standing with a basket of fish by her side, she is wearing a yellow and brown vertically striped skirt, green apron and yellow shawl. The reverse of this ornament has not been painted.

Prestonpans in East Lothian has an ancient connection with the manufacture of pottery. It had readily available local supplies of clay and of coal, and therefore had access to two of the essential raw ingredients for the industry. The Fishwife's distinctive dress was both practical and served as a recognisable uniform as she sold her fish around the streets of Edinburgh and other inland towns.