Last week, I discussed figures of Mercury that were made by the Brown Base Group pot bank and the potter John Dale. Seemingly from the same figure molds, they were made several decades apart. I have yet to see these figure models made by any other pot bank. Today, I want to show you another pair of figures with a similar relationship.
Below are two figures of Aesculapius, the Greco-Roman god of medicine.
Below are two figures of Aesculapius, the Greco-Roman god of medicine.
Attributed to Brown Base Group pot bank
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Made by John Dale and impressed "I. Dale Burslem"
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The figure on the left can be attributed to the Brown Base Group (circa 1795), and that on the right was made by John Dale (circa 1825). Again, I know of no other enamel-painted pearlware figure models of Aesculapius, so it seems only these two pot banks made this model.
Courtesy Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. On the other hand, another pearlware model of Aesculapius decorated in underglaze colors was made. The example alongside differs from the Brown Base and Dale figures above.
The underglaze-decorated Aesculapius, made circa 1800, is after the earlier Derby porcelain figure model. Alongside you see a Derby figure made circa 1775.
On another note, dealers currently have some really yummy figure groups in stock. Martyn Edgell has a charming pearlware spill vase impressed with the Ralph Wood number 163 beneath. As you might expect of a figure group made circa 1790, the enamels are so soft and pretty, and the overall effect is delicate and less clunky than some later spill vases.
My heart skipped a beat when this group of Dr. Syntax playing cards popped onto John Howard's site. It oozes all that is wonderful about "Sherratt"--fun but not garish colors, and a delightful subject of literary interest.
This group is a dead ringer for one I own. I bought mine in around 2005, and I haven't seen another since. That's how rare it is. Mine went through a Yorkshire sale room, and it made the local press because it had been found hidden away in a garden shed. I have no idea how long it had been there, but I imagine a tasteless spouse insisted it be removed from the house--and the other partner, not bearing the thought of parting with it, hid it in the garden shed to peep at for private pleasure. I guess my figure group also made the press because I paid a respectable amount of money for it---but oh was it worth it! Syntax is an uncommon "Sherratt" subject in nice condition. In particular, I have seen examples with replaced heads on the figures. All in all, it is an especially exposed and vulnerable composition, is it not?
Last but not least, is this little Roger Giles at Nestegg Antiques. This is the "Sherratt" example, and if you want a Roger Giles, this is the model to buy.
I note that Nestegg Antiques also has a pretty Virgin Mary that can be attributed to Dudson--its always nice to have a figure that can be linked to its pot bank of origin, is it not?
