This pair of figures is on eBay. (Thanks to eBay seller mehorder332012 for the image). I know you are groaning in anticipation of another of my eBay rants, so, lest I disappoint, I must state that very, very many of the "antique" Staffordshire figures on eBay are reproductions--and that most of their sellers do not want to believe otherwise! On the other hand, some well-intentioned amateurs and dealers describe their figures, warts and all, and that's what we have with this pair of gardeners.
I found these figures immensely interesting. First, I am confident in attributing them to the Dudson factory. Dudson used several distinctive bocage forms that are very useful in identifying Dudson figures....but these figures lack bocages. Instead, look at the x-shaped sprig on her base. That x-sprig is specific to Dudson. When I see it, it is akin to a Dudson signature. His base also has x-sprigs on it, but they are partial. Clearly, they broke as they were formed.
This is an enlarged view of an x-sprig on another Dudson figure. It really is quite distinctive.
The Dudson pot bank has operated as a family business from its foundation to the present day. In 1800, Richard Dudson established his first works at Broad Street, Shelton, and by 1830 Dudson was a specialist figure manufactory, although contemporary trade directories fail to list it as such.
Dudson's establishment coincides with the closure of Ralph Wood's pot bank. Ralph Wood died in 1795, but his son, Ralph Wood III, operated the pot bank until his own premature death in 1801. We repeatedly see Dudson figures formed just like Ralph Wood figures. It is possible that Dudson simply copied the Ralph Wood figures, but it is more likely that Dudson acquired some of the Ralph Wood molds. There are further examples in a similar vein in August 7 and April 24 blog postings.
So what did the Ralph Wood gardeners look like? This pair is currently in the stock of Castle Antiques. You can read all about Ralph Wood gardeners from these molds in the July 10 blog posting.
Dudson's establishment coincides with the closure of Ralph Wood's pot bank. Ralph Wood died in 1795, but his son, Ralph Wood III, operated the pot bank until his own premature death in 1801. We repeatedly see Dudson figures formed just like Ralph Wood figures. It is possible that Dudson simply copied the Ralph Wood figures, but it is more likely that Dudson acquired some of the Ralph Wood molds. There are further examples in a similar vein in August 7 and April 24 blog postings.
So what did the Ralph Wood gardeners look like? This pair is currently in the stock of Castle Antiques. You can read all about Ralph Wood gardeners from these molds in the July 10 blog posting.
Back to those x-sprigs! You see them here on a pair of Dudson figures of Pomona and Flora. (Pomona on the left was previously in the stock of Aurea Carter.)
 |  |
This time, the x-sprigs are placed in the garlands that the ladies hold. The brown bases are typical of Dudson--but they are by no means exclusive to Dudson. Other pot banks also painted bases brown. On the other hand, those x-sprigs--with leaves of just this form--are definitively Dudson. If you have a figure with an x-sprig, please tell me about it.
