I received an enquiry last week about a figure. The owner had inherited it and knew naught about pottery, but naturally was curious. As the images popped up on my monitor, these thoughts flew through my head:
The Widow of Zaraphath.
The figure depicts the Widow of Zaraphath, usually found paired with Elijah. This figure was made by Ralph Wood. I know this because the rainbow coloring on the base is repeatedly found on figures made by Ralph Wood. Yes, I know painters moved from potbank to potbank, so painting alone should not be used as a basis for attribution, but I have yet to see this distinctive rainbow of colors on anything but a Ralph Wood figure.
BUT
the bocage on the figure is totally wrong for this figure. The bocage is of a form that we see repeatedly on Sherratt-style figures, not on Ralph Wood figures. Perhaps the bocage was taken off another figure to replace our Widow's bocage when it broke. However, best I can tell from the picture, the bocage is probably a replacement made by a restorer in recent decades.
BUT
the bocage on the figure is totally wrong for this figure. The bocage is of a form that we see repeatedly on Sherratt-style figures, not on Ralph Wood figures. Perhaps the bocage was taken off another figure to replace our Widow's bocage when it broke. However, best I can tell from the picture, the bocage is probably a replacement made by a restorer in recent decades.
A suspect bocage!
Why do I think this bocage is a modern creation? Firstly, the shade of green is wrong for early 19th century green and the painting looks yukky. You could argue that the bocage may merely have been overpainted, but I see telling evidence that it is completely restored--made from modern material. Look at the tiny pimply bumps and pock marks on the surface of the leaves. Restored goop often looks like this. Also, the leaves are not as crisp-edged as I would have expected, and there is no glaze puddled in the center of each little flower--a feature I especially enjoy on this particular bocage style. Below is how the bocage should look.
A 'Sherratt' oak leaf bocage with mayflowers. Note the bluey glaze puddled in the center of each flower.
Also, the figure has a problem at its other extreme. Look beneath the base.
Problem base on the Widow of Zaraphath.
ALSO
The round base that supports our Widow today was once mounted upon another base. The photograph taken from beneath the figure shows an unglazed rim and interior. Normally, these surfaces are glazed...unless the glaze could not reach them because something prevented it. And that something was another clay structure. Once upon a time, our widow looked rather like the Widow below, paired with her Elijah.
The round base that supports our Widow today was once mounted upon another base. The photograph taken from beneath the figure shows an unglazed rim and interior. Normally, these surfaces are glazed...unless the glaze could not reach them because something prevented it. And that something was another clay structure. Once upon a time, our widow looked rather like the Widow below, paired with her Elijah.
Figures titled ELIJAH and WIDOW OF SAREPTA (spelling was never a strong point in the Potteries!) circa 1800.
None of us improves with age, and so we sympathize with our Staffordshire widow. But next time you look at a perfect figure, please be awed by the fact that it has survived two centuries and retained its original glory.
