A rare Staffordshire figure group of The New Marriage Act, c.1823, modelled with a couple standing

A rare Staffordshire figure group of The New Marriage Act, c.1823, modelled with a couple standing beneath a tree with the parson and clerk, flanking a tablet inscribed 'John Frill and Ann Boke. Aged 21. That is right, says the parson, Amen says the clark', some restoration, 19cm.

Provenance: a private collection from Wiltshire.

The New Marriage Act of 1823 restricted the number of reasons a couple could give by which the marriage could be annulled. The plaque refers to the new ruling that stated if a couple claimed to be old enough to marry then that was sufficient and the marriage could not be undone.