My friend Bob is wise about a wide range of earthenwares, but when it comes to figures I liked to think I had him beat. I am a perpetual student, no expert, so this time I was thrilled to learn from Bob. Bob emailed me last week: Would you be interested in showing / discussing my feldspathic stoneware figure of Charity? I can’t find any literature reference to stoneware figures & I’d like to find out if there are other figures out there; perhaps even a marked example. I’m assuming Chetham & Woolley. The detail of the molding is incredible.
Chetham & Woolley? They didn’t make figures...or did they? Busts yes, but figures? Bob clearly was a step ahead of me this time, and I couldn’t wait for the pictures to arrive. So here she is.
Chetham & Woolley? They didn’t make figures...or did they? Busts yes, but figures? Bob clearly was a step ahead of me this time, and I couldn’t wait for the pictures to arrive. So here she is.
A simply gorgeous figure, is she not? Looks rather like a Staffordshire pearlware figure, doesn't she? My first reaction was to the modeling. Charity’s enormous hands and heavily hooded eyes are features found on Ralph Wood figures, and the overall modeling is of a Ralph Wood standard. Viewed from beneath, the base is finished in the manner consistent with Ralph Wood. But the decoration on the figure is less suggestive of Ralph Wood. The blue line goes around all four sides of the base, in contrast to the three lines found on Ralph Wood enamel-painted figures. Above all, the body appears to be stoneware, and it is translucent. This means light shines through it. Porcelain is translucent, yet this figure is earthenware.
Let’s look at the types of earthenware bodies. Bob referred me to Colin Wyman’s Chetham & Woolley Stonewares 1793-1821 for a very concise clarification of this otherwise murky area.
Bob’s figure is feldspathic stoneware. Possibly Chetham and Woolley made it. This firm established its potbank in Longton in 1795 and pioneered feldspathic stoneware, a new earthenware body that was translucent. The blue line around the base of Charity is like that found on soccles supporting busts made by this manufactory. I know an attribution can’t be hung on a blue line, but the line is a slim clue pointing us in a direction.
Although I have seen many versions of Charity, this form appears to be unique. I have seen no other example modeled thus. The molds are of a high standard and must have been costly, so it is difficult to understand why we don’t see other figures from them.
I can only conclude that Bob’s Charity was an experimental attempt, possibly by Chatham and Woolley. If you have any thoughts on this figure, please share.
Note
The only other figures I have recorded with a blue line around the base are the Seasons (discussed on July 27 2011, accessiible here) and a soldier. The decoration on the figures was suggestive of Ralph Wood but insufficient basis for attribution. At best, I must conclude that a painter who had worked for Wood may have painted these figures too. The figures are ordinary stoneware—not translucent, as best I can assess. They have pearlware glazes and in all other aspects resemble earthenware Staffordshire figures.
Update:
Let’s look at the types of earthenware bodies. Bob referred me to Colin Wyman’s Chetham & Woolley Stonewares 1793-1821 for a very concise clarification of this otherwise murky area.
- Earthenware (pottery to most of us) comprises mixed clays. When fired, it is gritty and porous. Unless it is glazed, water will seep into it. It is not translucent.
- Stoneware uses a modified clay mix able to withstand even higher firing temperatures. The body is vitreous (glassy) and fine. It is not translucent.
- Feldspathic stoneware comprise a clay mix with more feldspar in it. With high firing temperatures, it yields a stoneware body that is translucent.
Bob’s figure is feldspathic stoneware. Possibly Chetham and Woolley made it. This firm established its potbank in Longton in 1795 and pioneered feldspathic stoneware, a new earthenware body that was translucent. The blue line around the base of Charity is like that found on soccles supporting busts made by this manufactory. I know an attribution can’t be hung on a blue line, but the line is a slim clue pointing us in a direction.
Although I have seen many versions of Charity, this form appears to be unique. I have seen no other example modeled thus. The molds are of a high standard and must have been costly, so it is difficult to understand why we don’t see other figures from them.
I can only conclude that Bob’s Charity was an experimental attempt, possibly by Chatham and Woolley. If you have any thoughts on this figure, please share.
Note
The only other figures I have recorded with a blue line around the base are the Seasons (discussed on July 27 2011, accessiible here) and a soldier. The decoration on the figures was suggestive of Ralph Wood but insufficient basis for attribution. At best, I must conclude that a painter who had worked for Wood may have painted these figures too. The figures are ordinary stoneware—not translucent, as best I can assess. They have pearlware glazes and in all other aspects resemble earthenware Staffordshire figures.
Update:
Thanks to Raymond Parkin for the following information:
The Castlegate Antiques Centre in Newark recently sold a pair of feldspathic figures from a set of the seasons. They were about four inches high and were uncoloured, but of superb quality and not unlike similar Neale figures. They were unfortunately unmarked.
The figures had languished in a cabinet for some considerable time but I had resisted the temptation to buy them because of the price.
When I finally decided I must have them guess what, they had been sold just two days before! How man times have we done that......?
In over 40 years of collecting pots I can only recollect seeing a handful of these feldspathic figures.
Great information....and a reminder to always seize the moment!
The figures had languished in a cabinet for some considerable time but I had resisted the temptation to buy them because of the price.
When I finally decided I must have them guess what, they had been sold just two days before! How man times have we done that......?
In over 40 years of collecting pots I can only recollect seeing a handful of these feldspathic figures.
Great information....and a reminder to always seize the moment!
