After many grueling days of writing captions for pictures of sheep and deer for my upcoming book, I thought I deserved something easier this past Sunday. So I turned to the classical figures and chose Flora and Pomona. What could be simpler? Because Pomona and Flora sometimes occur as a pair, I decided it would be best to lump them in one section. Below is a pair of Flora and Pomona, attributed to "Sherratt."
Pomona is the lady with the apple. An apple is quite appropriate for the Roman goddess charged with caring for fruit treess. Flora, on the other hand, is the Roman goddess of things that flowers, so she holds a garland of flowers.
Now look at this pair below, also by "Sherratt." Again, Pomona stands with her apples. But look closely at the figure on the left. She looks very like Flora, but where is the garland of flowers? It's been replaced by a cornucopia and a bunch of grapes. I think that this figure is intended to be Ceres. The horn of plenty is the give-away. I have recorded more than one "Sherratt" example of both Flora and Ceres, so this is not a one-time aberration....nor is it the work of a misguided restorer.
Now look at this pair below, also by "Sherratt." Again, Pomona stands with her apples. But look closely at the figure on the left. She looks very like Flora, but where is the garland of flowers? It's been replaced by a cornucopia and a bunch of grapes. I think that this figure is intended to be Ceres. The horn of plenty is the give-away. I have recorded more than one "Sherratt" example of both Flora and Ceres, so this is not a one-time aberration....nor is it the work of a misguided restorer.
So much for my pairings of Flora and Pomona. Flora, Ceres, and Pomona? Pomona and Ceres? How best to lay things out. So confusing.
Figures from other pot banks can be just as perplexing. The figure below to the left is Flora. No doubt about it. There's that floral garland. But the figure on her right also has a garland and also seems to be Flora--but the figure has raised her right hand rather than her left. Two versions of Flora? Flora to pair with Flora?
Figures from other pot banks can be just as perplexing. The figure below to the left is Flora. No doubt about it. There's that floral garland. But the figure on her right also has a garland and also seems to be Flora--but the figure has raised her right hand rather than her left. Two versions of Flora? Flora to pair with Flora?
 |  From the stock of Aurea Carter Antiques. |
Look closely at the garland of the last figure yet again. See the apples in it? I believe this figure is intended to be Pomona, and the apples are placed within a garland. So here we have a quite different Pomona in a Flora-Pomona pairing. The devil is in the details.
There is enough material in my Pomona/Flora folder to keep me pondering for a while. Look at these two figures from The Potteries Museum.
There is enough material in my Pomona/Flora folder to keep me pondering for a while. Look at these two figures from The Potteries Museum.
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I expect the lady on the left once held a flower and is intended to be Flora. I am not sucking this out of thin air. I have many other Flora figures positioned thus. But look at the lady on the right. She carries a cornucopia and I think she is Ceres.
Ah well, so much for Flora and Pomona in a neat, organized lay out! After hours of shoving pictures around, Johnny Be Goode insisted on our daily walk, and I pondered the issue as he dragged me along. I recalled one dealer saying to me "Just put them all under Classical Maidens." Suddenly that sounded awfully good. But then there are those scantily clad rather sexless classical figures....and I am not sure where they would go. Nothing is easy....
If you have figures that you will share for my book, please email me. I am DYING to hear from you. Since starting on this project in the fall, my archive has expanded by the addition of figures from over 60 additional sources. But I want more. Yes, greedy, but this is our one shot at having a reference book. If you can help and you haven't yet, please email me.
Ah well, so much for Flora and Pomona in a neat, organized lay out! After hours of shoving pictures around, Johnny Be Goode insisted on our daily walk, and I pondered the issue as he dragged me along. I recalled one dealer saying to me "Just put them all under Classical Maidens." Suddenly that sounded awfully good. But then there are those scantily clad rather sexless classical figures....and I am not sure where they would go. Nothing is easy....
If you have figures that you will share for my book, please email me. I am DYING to hear from you. Since starting on this project in the fall, my archive has expanded by the addition of figures from over 60 additional sources. But I want more. Yes, greedy, but this is our one shot at having a reference book. If you can help and you haven't yet, please email me.
