Neale-type Seasons

The figures below are emblematic of the Four Seasons. From the left, they are Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.  The two girls with bonnets are confusing, but the girl with grapes represents Autumn, while the one with flowers is Spring. If in doubt, you just have to flip them over. Each has its title impressed beneath.

Photo courtesy of Nick Burton

These figures are often loosely called "Neale" Seasons, but strictly speaking most should be called "Neale-type".  Some examples are marked with the Neale mark, some are marked with the Wilson mark, and some are unmarked. Neale was a London merchant who owned the Church Works potbank from 1778 to 1789. Robert Wilson, who ran the pot bank for Neale, acquired it in 1789, and he and then his family ran it until its closure in 1817. 

• Some examples of the figures are marked Neale & Co. We can be reasonably certain that these were made in the Neale period. 
  
• Some examples have the Wilson mark (a "G" with a crown) and it seems logical to conclude these were made in the Wilson period.
  
• Many examples are unmarked, rather like the gorgeous set above. In theory, these could have been made at any point over the Neale-Wilson tenure--but I would want to date them to early in that period.
  

Whether they are marked or not, the figures invariably have their titles impressed beneath. Similarly styled small Neale/Neale-type figures of Apollo and Ceres are titled in the same way. 

Looking at the bases (above), you see that some have rounded interiors while others are squared. I wish I could draw a profound conclusion from this, but I have noted marked Neale bases with both rounded and squared interiors.

Now comes the fun stuff. Look carefully at the Neale-type figures of the Four Seasons below  What has changed here?

I am sure you spotted the odd man out right away. This time, there is a different representation of Autumn. The girl holding grapes has been replaced with a scantily clad cherub holding grapes. Seems that Neale/Wilson made more than one representation of Autumn, one contemporary, and one classical. As we saw in the first picture, all four Seasons were made in contemporary attire. Is it possible that all four were also made in a classical mode?

To the left, we have both Autumn and Spring in a classical style (courtesy Elinor Penna). I have encountered a few examples on my travels. They are never marked but are always titled beneath. However, I have yet to find classical companion figures of Summer and Winter. How frustrating.

And, as an added twist, we find the same Neale-type figures on assorted other bases. As you see below, the bases are usually unpainted/white. Did the Wilson family make these figures in their final years? Did some other pot bank acquire the molds and make the figures? 

We may never know who made these Neale-type lookalikes, but we can, I think, assume that  those on unpainted bases came from one pot bank.  As for the figure of Autumn that I show above with a line painted on its base...I throw up my hands. I have yet to find its companion figures.