The two ladies below (from Elinor Penna's stock) are both emblematic of Water. Do you know which one is earlier?
The answer is the figure on the left. She was made by Ralph Wood. He died in 1795, and his son operated the pot bank until 1801. So this figure was made in 1801 or sooner. The figure on the right is made by Dudson. Dudson started up around 1800, and from 1805 they made figures. Given the close similarity between the two and the sequence of events, it seems reasonable to conclude that Dudson acquired some of Ralph Wood's molds. I have seen many other similar linkages that substantiate the conclusion.
How do we know the figure on the left was made by Ralph Wood? It exhibits lots of typical features. The titling is in a script found routinely on Ralph Wood figures. The red line on the base bands only three sides of the base. The lady stands on a mound painted in the typical rainbow-like colors Ralph Wood favored. And, most importantly, when you look at the base from beneath, it has rounded internal corners--as occurs repeatedly on other Ralph Wood figures.
How do we know the figure on the left was made by Ralph Wood? It exhibits lots of typical features. The titling is in a script found routinely on Ralph Wood figures. The red line on the base bands only three sides of the base. The lady stands on a mound painted in the typical rainbow-like colors Ralph Wood favored. And, most importantly, when you look at the base from beneath, it has rounded internal corners--as occurs repeatedly on other Ralph Wood figures.
The base on the left is the base of the Ralph Wood figure. The base on the right is the base of the Dudson figure. Small Dudson figures consistently stand on bases made in this way. Add to that, the script is typical of that found consistently on Dudson figures. And the slightly yellower body/glaze is also typical of Dudson. When encountering a new figure, I instinctively look beneath the base first. It really reveals a lot.
I will admit I am frustrated with figure collecting generally. Where would stamp collecting be if stamp collectors simply bought stamps they liked and stuck them in albums? The pastime would be pretty uninteresting. Instead, stamp collectors pore over details of perforations, water marks, and other teensy details that tell them more about their stamps. By differentiating the rare/interesting from the mundane, they add value to their pastime. The same can be said of most other forms of collecting....but not of pottery collectors as a whole. Most of us just buy what we like, and stick it on a shelf. As a result, so very many of the most interesting, rare, and fascinating figures command low prices. My new books will have a price guide, and pricing figures has brought home a sad fact: some of the small figures most collectors would love to own are really very rare. But they are priced at no more than Price A, the lowest level on my pricing scale.
You may argue that the details don't matter.....but look at what we just learned about the two figures of Water. We know who made each, and that the one is older than the other. Suddenly they both become a lot more interesting....and now you might be inclined to add the remaining three elements to one or other to form a set. It can be done!
Aurea Carter currently has this pair of lovely figures emblematic of Water and Earth in stock.
I will admit I am frustrated with figure collecting generally. Where would stamp collecting be if stamp collectors simply bought stamps they liked and stuck them in albums? The pastime would be pretty uninteresting. Instead, stamp collectors pore over details of perforations, water marks, and other teensy details that tell them more about their stamps. By differentiating the rare/interesting from the mundane, they add value to their pastime. The same can be said of most other forms of collecting....but not of pottery collectors as a whole. Most of us just buy what we like, and stick it on a shelf. As a result, so very many of the most interesting, rare, and fascinating figures command low prices. My new books will have a price guide, and pricing figures has brought home a sad fact: some of the small figures most collectors would love to own are really very rare. But they are priced at no more than Price A, the lowest level on my pricing scale.
You may argue that the details don't matter.....but look at what we just learned about the two figures of Water. We know who made each, and that the one is older than the other. Suddenly they both become a lot more interesting....and now you might be inclined to add the remaining three elements to one or other to form a set. It can be done!
Aurea Carter currently has this pair of lovely figures emblematic of Water and Earth in stock.
You will recognize the lady as being from the same molds as the Ralph Wood and Dudson figures. I have no idea who made her...but I will be thinking about it. Interestingly, she now holds a jug. The possibilites are endless. Another Dudson variation, but lacking any features that support an attribution? Enoch Wood? Any one of many other potters? The truth is that we may never know.
Ralph Wood was a mold maker extraordinaire. Time and again, I see figures made in the 1830s that are of the same form as figures first made by Ralph Wood in the 1790s. For example, most portrayals of Elijah and the Widow are closely similar to earlier Ralph Wood figures. I can go on and on with examples, but the figures below illustrate my point.
These two gardeners in the Potteries Museum are impressed "1" and "2". Because I think that impressed numbers on Ralph Wood figures indicate the sequential introduction of new figures, figures "1" and "2" must have first been made early on in the Ralph Wood era.
Ralph Wood was a mold maker extraordinaire. Time and again, I see figures made in the 1830s that are of the same form as figures first made by Ralph Wood in the 1790s. For example, most portrayals of Elijah and the Widow are closely similar to earlier Ralph Wood figures. I can go on and on with examples, but the figures below illustrate my point.
These two gardeners in the Potteries Museum are impressed "1" and "2". Because I think that impressed numbers on Ralph Wood figures indicate the sequential introduction of new figures, figures "1" and "2" must have first been made early on in the Ralph Wood era.
Ralph Wood's little gardeners set the "look" for many figures that were made in the following decades. The pair below was made in the 1830s--around 40 years after Ralph died. (Photo: courtesy Michael Grana.)
And here we have a similar gardener, with bocage, circa 1825.
I have been working on compiling a list of impressed Ralph Wood numbers and the corresponding figural forms. Falkner initially did this a century ago. He recorded 47 enamel painted figures and busts. I had recorded 110.....until today, when a new find on eBay brought the grand total to 111. This bust of an unidentified gentleman, currently on eBay, is impressed 128 on the reverse.
I don't know who this gentleman is, but if you know, please shout. You can see the bust on eBay, while it lasts, by clicking here.
Update to the mystery bust:
Falkner notes busts of Milton as impressed 81, and I have noted them also impressed 82.
But Falkner also notes a bust of Milton, smaller in size, impressed 127. I think Falkner’s 127 is like this bust, impressed 128.
Bust 128 has clothing and facial features that are pretty close to bust 81---so I think Falkner took a leap of faith.
I am not quite convinced that the gentleman is indeed Milton, who is always portrayed with long hair, but for now Milton seems as close to an identity as I can get.
Below, courtesy of Bonhams, is a bust of Milton. This is the 81/82 model. You decide!
Falkner notes busts of Milton as impressed 81, and I have noted them also impressed 82.
But Falkner also notes a bust of Milton, smaller in size, impressed 127. I think Falkner’s 127 is like this bust, impressed 128.
Bust 128 has clothing and facial features that are pretty close to bust 81---so I think Falkner took a leap of faith.
I am not quite convinced that the gentleman is indeed Milton, who is always portrayed with long hair, but for now Milton seems as close to an identity as I can get.
Below, courtesy of Bonhams, is a bust of Milton. This is the 81/82 model. You decide!
