‘Perswaition’ is a charming product of the realistic school of figure-making which developed in the Potteries between about 1800 and 1840. The couple are depicted in an unaffected manner, as if the young man had decided to propose on a stroll in the garden, or on their way home from church or chapel. The stylized tree behind them, known as became (a grove), was derived from eighteenth- century porcelain figures. It was a feature of figures by John Walton, who was christened in 1780, and was listed as a potter in local directories from 1818 to 1835. Some of his models, including examples o f Perswaition’ are marked ‘WALTON’ impressed or in relief on a raised scroll. Several other potters, such as Ralph Salt of Shelton, John Dale of Burslem and Charles Tittensor of Hanley, made figures in this rustic style but, as few were marked and plagiarism was rife, it is difficult to make firm attributions.