Staffordshire Figures 1780-1840
  • Home
  • Books
  • Blog
  • Figures etc.
    • Some Fabulous Figures
    • Restoring Antique Staffordshire Pottery
    • Reproductions of Antique Staffordshire Pottery Figures
    • Believe It?
    • Dealers in Antique Staffordshire Pottery
    • Books on Staffordshire Pottery
    • Interesting Web Sites
  • Videos

Variations

5/1/2012

0 Comments

 
I have come to know many collectors via the Internet, and this past week I was thrilled to meet one of them face-to-face when I lectured in Houston.  Of course, I couldn't wait to see my collector friend's treasures, which included a lovely figure of a hurdy-gurdy player. Below, this figure is on the left. Alongside on the right is a hurdy-gurdy player, formerly in the stock of Andrew Dando.

Picture
Picture
All hurdy-gurdy players are after the Ralph Wood figure sometimes titled Flemish Music. Ralph Wood was the first to make this figure, and all subsequent examples seem to have derived from the Ralph Wood molds. I have recorded an example with an Enoch Wood mark, and one with a "WEDGWOOD" mark, as well as an example I attribute to Dudson. Again, all are very like the Ralph Wood model. 

The hurdy-gurdy player in Houston, however, differs  noticably  from anything I have seen before. He has a broader face--quite a friendly, smiling face. The detailing on his clothing is different, indicating that different molds were involved in his manufacture (at least from the waist up). And the sound box on his hurdy-gurdy is well-defined and it is actually cut open.  I recall Andrew Dando telling me he had seen this feature on a hurdy-gurdy player in Pratt colors quite recently, so perhaps there is a relationship. Finding this figure made my day! 

My friend also has this charming figure in his collection. 

Picture
The figure is emblematic of Spring. That purple bonnet is super, and the lady has a riveting expression that is very engaging. My fingers immediately recognized the feel of the enamels and glazes. Such enamels and glazes occur on a group of figures that routinely have buff-colored bases. I have dubbed this group the Buff Base Group--yes, I know, hardly an imaginative name!  And yes, I know, my friend's figure of Spring has a black base. But in every other aspect she is attributable to the Buff Base Group. Below, is an example on a buff base, alongside other figures emblematic of the other three seasons.
Picture
Note that both Buff Base Group figures of Spring (one on a buff base, one on a black base) have the same flowers on the bases. I am certain that these figures once started life in the same pot bank. I wish we knew the potter's name, but for now we shall just have to lump his work beneath the umbrella title of the "Buff Base Group." BTW, the figures of the Seasons belong to another great collector I have met on the Internet, and we all learn so much when we share in this way.

You might like this small gardener from the Buff Base Group.
Picture
I hope this additonal picture helps you get a sense of the enamels and glazes that occur routinely on examples from the Buff Base Group. When I started assembling this Group of figures, I dubbed the Group the "Gray Base Group" because most bases are gray. However, colors are never consistent and some of the bases appear an almost yellow color, so the Gray Base Group quickly became the Buff Base Group. The addition of a black base throws a spanner in the works, but at this point the Buff Base Group will keep its name.

On a last note, my Houston friend could not have been a more charming host. We had a wonderful dinner at his home, and I wish you could have seen the flowers on the table--and in particular the figures among them. Four figures emblematic of the four seasons coupled with four cherubs. What could be more gorgeous?

If you go to Houston, visit Bayou Bend. To my delight, the collection holds two marked Ralph Wood busts, a Ralph Wood figure of Dr. Franklin (impressed "43"), a pair of the boxers Cribb and Molineux, and a host of other delights.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Myrna Schkolne, Myrna Bloch Schkolne, antique Staffordshire pottery, expert
    antique Staffordshire pottery, Staffordshire figure, bocage, antique Staffordshire, Myrna Schkolne
    Staffordshire figure, Myrna Schkolne, pearlware figure, creamware, bocage figure, antique Staffordshire pottery
    Staffordshire figure, Myrna Schkolne, pearlware figure, creamware, bocage figure, antique Staffordshire pottery
    Staffordshire figure, Myrna Schkolne, pearlware figure, creamware, bocage figure, antique Staffordshire pottery
    Staffordshire figure, Myrna Schkolne, pearlware figure, creamware, bocage figure, antique Staffordshire pottery
    Staffordshire figure, Myrna Schkolne, pearlware figure, creamware, bocage figure, antique Staffordshire pottery
    antique Staffordshire pottery, Staffordshire figure, bocage, antique Staffordshire, Myrna Schkolnecture
    antique Staffordshire pottery, Staffordshire figure, bocage, antique Staffordshire, Myrna Schkolne
    antique Staffordshire pottery, Staffordshire figure, bocage, antique Staffordshire, Myrna Schkolne
    antique Staffordshire pottery, Staffordshire figure, Ralph Wood, antique Staffordshire, Myrna Schkolne
    antique Staffordshire pottery, Staffordshire figure, Obadiah Sherratt, antique Staffordshire, Myrna Schkolne
    Picture
    antique Staffordshire pottery figure, pearlware figure, Staffordshire figure, creamware, Neale & Co, Wilson, Neale & Wilson,  Myrna Schkolne

    Archives

    January 2025
    December 2024
    September 2024
    July 2024
    May 2024
    February 2024
    November 2023
    September 2023
    July 2023
    April 2023
    February 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    August 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008

    All material on this website is protected by copyright law. You may link to this site from your site, but please contact Myrna if you wish to reproduce any of this material elsewhere.


Visit earlystaffordshirefigures.com