William Absolon of Yarmouth

We are used to most of our figures being unmarked, so on the rare occasion that we flip a figure over and see a mark, we conclude this is a maker's mark.  And this figure of Autumn is marked quite clearly beneath.

"Absolon yarm" is painted on the bottom of the base in beautiful copperplate script. The maker's mark? Not so fast!  In this case, the mark is that of a very well known painter, William Absolon of Yarmouth. William Absolon established his painting workshop in Yarmouth in 1790, and he both painted and sold pottery and porcelain figures. He owned a muffle kiln, so he would have bought this figure of Autumn in the white and painted it for resale.  Perhaps you could even choose your colors. In those days before decorators, I am sure nobody was tacky enough to insist that the jacket color match the wall paper!

William Absolon's mark is also recorded beneath the bases of figures  Venus (British Museum AN9656290001), Hope, and a figure emblematic of Water.  The figure of Water is below.

I have recorded several of the other Elements painted in just the same manner as Water, but none is marked. I can't help thinking that they all just may be Absolon's work.  All are painted with similar base colors and just the edge of the clothing tipped with color. 

I have also recorded this figure of St Peter  that is painted in just the same manner.

At the risk of stating the obvious, notice the two-tone base edge. Also, the clothing is again tipped with color. There is not mark of any sort on St Peter, but I can't help thinking that William Absolon painted him. For the record, this is quite an unusual figure of St. Peter, and it was made without a bocage.

One day, science will be able to tell us the "DNA" of paints and glazes, and perhaps we will then be able to link figures by the composition of those materials. Until then, we must speculate. How frustrating. But meanwhile, please tell me if you see any more figures with Aboslon's mark or with this distinctive painting style.