Most classical figures tend to be at the lower end of the price range. Those wan, heavy-hipped ladies, often chipped and battered by life, float through eBay routinely. But take note! All are not equal, and there are some stunners that can be picked up at very reasonable prices from great dealers who, of course, only stock fine examples. Because these figure are simpler (usually without bocages or "fiddly bits"), there are big smooth surfaces for the light to play on. As a result, well made examples simply glow. This figure of Plenty or Ceres (your choice of name) was recently in Aurea Carter's stock.
Two things make this figure particularly interesting:
Firstly, the base is marked "WOOD & CALDWELL", so we can date this figure to between 1791 and 1818. The date given for the start of the W&C partnership is usually 1790, but James Caldwell's diary quite clearly states that the partnership commenced on Jan 1, 1791, so that is the date we should be using.
Firstly, the base is marked "WOOD & CALDWELL", so we can date this figure to between 1791 and 1818. The date given for the start of the W&C partnership is usually 1790, but James Caldwell's diary quite clearly states that the partnership commenced on Jan 1, 1791, so that is the date we should be using.
Secondly, the figure is unusual in that her cornucopia is formed as a candle holder. I haven't seen that before, and I have seen plenty of Plenty/Ceres figures.
Why, you might ask, do I not know whether this figure is Plenty or Ceres? The answer is that the terms were used interchangably to refer to Ceres, who was the goddess of Plenty. Below, is a print applied to glass of the lady in question, circa 1800.
Why, you might ask, do I not know whether this figure is Plenty or Ceres? The answer is that the terms were used interchangably to refer to Ceres, who was the goddess of Plenty. Below, is a print applied to glass of the lady in question, circa 1800.
Ceres's most well known attribute is the large cornucopia we see with our pottery figures. Did you know that the usual square-based figures of Ceres were made in two forms?
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Sometimes Ceres holds her cornucopia to the left, and sometimes it is to the right. The more I research, the more convinced I am that most figures had a companion version. If you wanted a pair of Ceres figures, you were able to buy two to stand as a pair.
Neither of the figures above is marked. The right one (previously in the stock of Andrew Dando) appears to be from the same molds as the marked Wood & Caldwell figure, with candle holder. Perhaps it too was made by Wood & Caldwell, or by Enoch Wood, using the very same molds.
While we are on the subject of Ceres/Plenty, take a look at the Ralph Wood version, made between 1782 and 1801. (Formerly in the stock of Nick Burton.)
Neither of the figures above is marked. The right one (previously in the stock of Andrew Dando) appears to be from the same molds as the marked Wood & Caldwell figure, with candle holder. Perhaps it too was made by Wood & Caldwell, or by Enoch Wood, using the very same molds.
While we are on the subject of Ceres/Plenty, take a look at the Ralph Wood version, made between 1782 and 1801. (Formerly in the stock of Nick Burton.)
Lovely, is she not? Particularly exciting is the link to the figure below (formerly in the stock of Aurea Carter.)
Both figures are as made, but the version titled Fortune has an object atop her head. What? I am not sure....perhaps Fortune's pot of gold??? If you know, please tell me. This is a lovely figure, and both versions ooze Ralph Wood features. To top it all, Fortune has an interesting base.
The "W" on the back of the base occurs on eight enamel-painted Ralph Wood figures, and I am confident it is a Ralph Wood mark. I show the interior of the base because it is unusual. Typically, Ralph Wood figures have soft, rounded interiors to the bases. This figure has an angled interior base. I am not sure what to make of that. Perhaps things were just done differently on that day!
All these classical figures are lovely, and all come from fine dealers. If you are unsure as to what makes a fine figure, don't buy on eBay. You can rely on good dealers to only put their money into fine stock, so let them do the selection for you. Otherwise, tread carefully please.
All these classical figures are lovely, and all come from fine dealers. If you are unsure as to what makes a fine figure, don't buy on eBay. You can rely on good dealers to only put their money into fine stock, so let them do the selection for you. Otherwise, tread carefully please.
