This figure group, courtesy of the Fitzwilliam Museum, portrays Time Clipping the Wings of Love . It is after an earlier Derby group, which, in turn is after James Macardell’s mezzotint of Van Dyck’s sixteenth-century painting. Is that a mouthful?
This is a print of the painting that started it all, and you can see that the figures are positioned rather differently in the earthenware group. I do think the earthenware group is lovely. Cupid, of course, symbolizes love. Note the skull and cross bones on the base...the death of Love!
The group is in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, and I share their photo with you. The Museum object record attributes the figure to Ralph Wood II or Ralph Wood III. Stop agonizing, Fitzwilliam. Fret no further as to which Ralph Wood you should choose. Neither one made this figure. Instead, it was quite definitely made by Lakin and Poole. The marbled base that the figure rests on supports the attribution. Yes, other potters also used marbled bases....but the very subtle marbled painting is not like that used by others. And here comes the big clue. Look at the recessed edge running all around the top edge of the base. This ties down the attribution to Lakin & Poole (active 1791-1795).
This distinctive marbled base-with-recessed-edge occurs again and again on Lakin & Poole figures with larger bases. Below is an example of Cephalus & Procris. This example is marked "Lakin & Poole". There is another just like it in the Fitzwilliam collection. This time the online object record states the maker is Lakin & Poole....but I am not sure if the object is actually marked or if the museum has attributed it, correctly this time.
This distinctive marbled base-with-recessed-edge occurs again and again on Lakin & Poole figures with larger bases. Below is an example of Cephalus & Procris. This example is marked "Lakin & Poole". There is another just like it in the Fitzwilliam collection. This time the online object record states the maker is Lakin & Poole....but I am not sure if the object is actually marked or if the museum has attributed it, correctly this time.
The Fitzwilliam has at least 4 Lakin & Poole figures on bases just like the two we see above. Amazing that after a century or so of owning these figures nobody has made the connection that would attribute Time Clipping the Wings of Love to the correct pot bank. But don't let that stop you looking at the site some time. I love, love, love the collection, even if the web site does take determination to navigate. I am very grateful to the Fitzwilliam and other museums that put their collections into cyberspace, but this in no way reduces my extreme frustration at errors in object records. I worry that these errors, once in cyberspace, will spread erroneous beliefs. We all make mistakes, so how do we set museum records straight? Should we write to museums? Ha! I have tried that. I can no longer look at the Winterthur site lest my eye yet again hit the figure randomly attributed to Walton--despite my corresponding with the museum about it over a year ago.
The bottom line is that we have to record our knowledge correctly if we are to learn. That's why I hold museums, the care takers of our treasures and the sharers of knowledge, to the highest standards. If you are ever misguided enough to bequeath a figure to a museum, please make sure it will be displayed PERMANENTLY and described CORRECTLY. Better yet, let it go back onto the market.
Remember, remember: this is the week for the NY Ceramics Fair. If you are going to be there on Tues, Wed, or Thurs, and would like to meet, email me...and enjoy!
The bottom line is that we have to record our knowledge correctly if we are to learn. That's why I hold museums, the care takers of our treasures and the sharers of knowledge, to the highest standards. If you are ever misguided enough to bequeath a figure to a museum, please make sure it will be displayed PERMANENTLY and described CORRECTLY. Better yet, let it go back onto the market.
Remember, remember: this is the week for the NY Ceramics Fair. If you are going to be there on Tues, Wed, or Thurs, and would like to meet, email me...and enjoy!
