Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840

A couple of odd snippets are on my mind this week. First, did you notice this figure on Martyn Edgell's site?

The figure portrays Leda and the swan. Greek mythology tells that Jupiter came to Leda, wife of the King of Sparta, in the form of a swan. As a result of their union, she laid an egg from which the heavenly twins Castor and Pollux hatched. This myth was prominent in Renaissance art, but I don't know the precise design source for the figure. I am confident that the base is a lovely brown rather than black. The figure is closely related to a small group of other figures, all portraying classical subjects, that occur on brown bases. The figures form a true family in that they all look related. Here is Ceres from that same family of figures.

See what I mean? These two ladies look like they might be sisters. And the group shares other characteristics....but that is another story.

The relationships between figures are fascinating, and sometimes bocages and bases provide the clues to the linkages. This small elelphant, a sweet tubby baby, was recently in John Howard's stock. It was made without a bocage, and it was made by Enoch Wood. Height about 2.5".

How do I know Enoch Wood made this figure? Well, I know of three other good examples-a pair(which you can see in my book) and a single. Both have bocages that link to excavated Enoch Wood shards. Now I know potters copied each others' bocages, but these bocages are consistently found on only Enoch Wood figures, so I am quite confident that the three baby elephants with bocages are all by Enoch Wood. This made-without-bocage baby is from the same molds and the underneath of the base is formed similarly. So he too earns an Enoch Wood attribution.

If you are yawning, let me assure you that this is invaluable knowledge. Note I said that I know of three other good examples of this elephant. I do know of one more, but the bocage bothered me. Pretty as it looked, it just didn't sit right. One bit was obviously restored, but the rest was good old bocage that had been reattached. So what was wrong? The "good old bocage" was of the type that Ralph Salt used. Enoch Wood never used that bocage, so there was a problem!

One last image that has come my way that must be shared is this little vendor, formerly in the stock of David Boyer and Ivan Mears.

What could be more charming? This figure occurs titled FRUIT BOYS (see my book) and also on other bases with other bocages....but here everything comes together perfectly. And best of all, that very vulnerable bocage is unbroken. Nice to think that this little fella has been loved for almost two centuries!