Staffordshire figures of the Vicar and Moses originated with a model decorated in colored glazes and made by Ralph Wood circa 1790. Crisply modeled renditions are lovely and can positively glow. Generally, these figures are about 9" tall.
Colored glaze Vicar and Moses by Ralph Wood. Circa 1790. Courtesy Earle Vandekar.
The figure group was produced in enamel colors by other unknown potters in the early 1800s. Here is such an example. The modeling remains vigorous. The height is around 9''--same size as the colored glaze example.
Enamel-painted Vicar and Moses. Circa1820. Courtesy John Howard.
Later Staffordshire figure group
But now we start down a slippery slope. It seems these figure groups were produced perhaps into the 20thC. Examples occur that just don't appear to be early. The colors and glazes are not quite what they should be, and the group always seems particularly lifeless. Nothing humorous or engaging here. The group illustrated is coming up for auction in the UK this month, cataloged as LATE 19thC. Hallelujah! Credit to the auction house, Mellors and Kirk, for not claiming an earlier date, as so many other vendors do.
I routinely see Vicar and Moses groups. From a picture, I can often deduce they are suspicious. But there is one example that is very wrong, yet it has lots of people fooled. This enamel-painted version bears an incised "R WOOD" and the date 1794.
The mark purports to be that of Ralph Wood, but Ralph Wood's mark just doesn't look like this. To see the mark, which is always impressed rather than incised, click here. Also, Ralph Wood NEVER dated his figures. This is an obvious attempt to delude! Note the letters 'S' in "Moses" are formed backwards, also no doubt an attempt to impart the naivete associated with early wares
When was this figure group made? I don't know. Australia's Powerhouse Museum has an example that was donated in 1927, so we can assume all examples probably predate that. Circa 1900? Who's to say? We just don't know. But we do know that this figure is NOT an early 19thC Staffordshire figure.
The Internet bring us many curses and blessings. On the positive side of the equation: we now see very many more figures, so it is possible to be increasingly aware of this figure group's existence. But don't let it fool you!
When was this figure group made? I don't know. Australia's Powerhouse Museum has an example that was donated in 1927, so we can assume all examples probably predate that. Circa 1900? Who's to say? We just don't know. But we do know that this figure is NOT an early 19thC Staffordshire figure.
The Internet bring us many curses and blessings. On the positive side of the equation: we now see very many more figures, so it is possible to be increasingly aware of this figure group's existence. But don't let it fool you!
'The Sleeping Congregation' by Hogarth
The inspiration for this figure group was a Hogarth's engraving of "The Sleeping Congregation", published first in 1736. In an era when the clergy was notoriously lazy, the figure group appealed because it shows the vicar sleeping soundly in his pulpit, while the clerk, Moses, delivers the sermon.
