Ralph Wood II and Ralph Wood III (active 1782-1801)
Ralph Wood figures are the output of Ralph Wood II (1748-1795) and to a lesser extent, his son, Ralph Wood III (1774 - 1801). These men directly descended from the renowned modeler, Ralph Wood I (1715-1772). As a group, the Ralph Wood figures are distinctive, but writing in 1922 Captain Price notes that as late as 1907 Ralph Wood figures “were very little known.'[i] And by 2010, almost nothing has been published on the numerous enamel-painted Ralph Wood figures.
In 1991, Pat Halfpenny published her hypothesis that Ralph Wood II produced no figures in the 1780s and was sales manager in partnership with Enoch Wood. She conceded Ralph Wood II made some figures in his final years, 1790-1795—this explained figures bearing his impressed name—but she believed these figures were made using models purchased from others.Halfpenny concluded Wood figures to have been made largely by either John Wood or Enoch Wood.
Halfpenny’s viewpoint has now been displaced by the rigorous research by Wynne Hamilton-Foyn. [ii] Hamilton Foyn's work proves that from August 1782 until his death in 1795 Ralph Wood II produced figures that he had almost certainly modeled himself. In summary, we now know the following about Ralph Wood II:
What of the long-held belief that RW was sales manager in a partnership with EW from 1783-1789? The Enoch Wood papers acquired by the Potteries Museum in 2005 relegate this to the realm of myth. Enoch Wood notes “I began business for myself Nov 11th 1783 with partner Ralph Wood for a few weeks only dismiss [sic] him with all his things again”. The underlining is Enoch’s. Clearly this relationship was short-lived. Ralph had significant “things” to contribute to the partnership because he had been an established manufacturer for over a year.
What of the hypothesis that Enoch made the Ralph Wood figures? From the above, we know Enoch could not have made Ralph's figures between 1783 and 1789 because Ralph was making them. Enoch could not have made them before 1783 because he was working for Neale at the Church Works, Hanley. Thus, Enoch could not have made the wares Ralph Wood supplied to Wedgwood in 1782.
What of the theory that John Wood made the Ralph Wood figures? Firstly no figure bears a John Wood mark, while the Ralph Wood mark has been recorded frequently. Secondly, John Wood’s manufactory opened in May 1783, a date later than that on the earlier invoices Ralph submitted to Wedgwood. Clearly, Ralph Wood was an established manufacturer when John opened his doors. While John did sell figures subsequently, they were a small part of his sales and were probably supplied by Ralph. Ralph and John were brothers. John had helped Ralph financially in the past and it is unlikely that he would have competed in figure production with his brother.
What of the hypothesis that Ralph Wood modeled nothing but bought his models from others? Frank Falkner, writing in 1912, strongly believed that RW was, like his father, a modeler. He gleaned this information from early family papers and oral family history. Ralph Wood I was a modeler for the Big House Wedgwoods until his death in 1772. Ralph Wood II worked at the Big House at least from 1769, when he finished his apprenticeship, and it seems reasonable to believe he acquired modeling skills from his father. Ralph Wood II’s childhood was dominated by modeling. His father, Ralph I, and uncle, Aaron, were leading modelers of their time; his cousin William was to become a leading modeler for Wedgwood; his cousin Enoch was a renowned modeler; and his sister Mary married a modeler. Models for the making of molds were expensive. If you could make them in-house, you did—especially if you were cash-strapped, as Ralph Wood II frequently was. Ralph Wood’s ability to fashion his own models explains the extraordinary range of Ralph Wood figures, as well as variations of the same figures. Again and again, we see models adaptations giving rise to a different form of the same figure: “Hay Maker” (impressed 31) occurs with different heads; multiple versions of gardeners, Venus, Jupiter, and other figure forms occur. The ability to create models reduced the need for capital, and this skill was probably critical to Ralph Wood II being able to start his own manufactory just months after his bankruptcy. Hamilton Foyn concludes that strong circumstantial evidence makes it likely that Ralph Wood was creating models in his Bristol shop and was ready to go into production when he returned to Burslem in 1783.
What of Ralph Wood III? After the death of his father in 1795, he continued the Hill Potworks until his own death at the age of 26 in 1801. There is no way of knowing which Ralph Wood figures were made by Ralph Wood III. But we do know that all Ralph Wood figures were made no later than 1801. As such, they fall into what Halfpenny dubs “The First Phase” of enamel figure production (1780-1800). But Halfpenny classifies some Ralph Wood figures as Second Phase (1800-1840)[iii], based on her subjective assessment of their enamel palette. As both Ralph Woods were dead within months of the start of the Second Phase, the validity of this subjective classification must be questioned.
[i] Price, R.K. Astbury, Whieldon, and Ralph Wood Figures and Toby Jugs. p54
[ii]Available from the Fitzwilliam Museum, the Potteries Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Ashmolean, the Wedgwood Museum, and the British Museum
[iii] Halfpenny, Pat. English Earthenware Figures 1740-1840. p189, p201
In 1991, Pat Halfpenny published her hypothesis that Ralph Wood II produced no figures in the 1780s and was sales manager in partnership with Enoch Wood. She conceded Ralph Wood II made some figures in his final years, 1790-1795—this explained figures bearing his impressed name—but she believed these figures were made using models purchased from others.Halfpenny concluded Wood figures to have been made largely by either John Wood or Enoch Wood.
Halfpenny’s viewpoint has now been displaced by the rigorous research by Wynne Hamilton-Foyn. [ii] Hamilton Foyn's work proves that from August 1782 until his death in 1795 Ralph Wood II produced figures that he had almost certainly modeled himself. In summary, we now know the following about Ralph Wood II:
- In 1769, aged 21, he completed his apprenticeship and was hired by Thomas and John Wedgwood of the Big House. Here his father, Ralph Wood I, worked as a modeler.
- Ca. 1772- 1773 he established a Burslem manufactory with his brother John but the venture failed in 1773.
- From 1773, he operated with John an upscale earthenware and glass shop in Bristol, where he sold the wares of others.
- In June 24, 1774, he married Sophia Lambert
- In May 29, 1774, his son, Ralph Wood III, was baptized at two weeks of age.
- In 1775, his brother John returned to Burslem to work at the Big House Pottery, which supplied wares to the Bristol shop.
- In August 1781, he was accused of sodomy and considered fleeing Bristol.
- In September, 1781, his Bristol goods were sold at bankruptcy auction.
- By March 1782, he had returned to Burslem.
- On August 14, 1782, he invoiced Josiah Wedgwood for figures (with titles familiar to collectors). This invoice evidences his presence in Burslem as a manufacturer in 1782.
- In July 28, 1783, he again invoices Wedgwood for similar wares. Subsequent invoices dated September 5, and November 19, 1783, further support his continued presence as an independent manufacturer of figures.
What of the long-held belief that RW was sales manager in a partnership with EW from 1783-1789? The Enoch Wood papers acquired by the Potteries Museum in 2005 relegate this to the realm of myth. Enoch Wood notes “I began business for myself Nov 11th 1783 with partner Ralph Wood for a few weeks only dismiss [sic] him with all his things again”. The underlining is Enoch’s. Clearly this relationship was short-lived. Ralph had significant “things” to contribute to the partnership because he had been an established manufacturer for over a year.
What of the hypothesis that Enoch made the Ralph Wood figures? From the above, we know Enoch could not have made Ralph's figures between 1783 and 1789 because Ralph was making them. Enoch could not have made them before 1783 because he was working for Neale at the Church Works, Hanley. Thus, Enoch could not have made the wares Ralph Wood supplied to Wedgwood in 1782.
What of the theory that John Wood made the Ralph Wood figures? Firstly no figure bears a John Wood mark, while the Ralph Wood mark has been recorded frequently. Secondly, John Wood’s manufactory opened in May 1783, a date later than that on the earlier invoices Ralph submitted to Wedgwood. Clearly, Ralph Wood was an established manufacturer when John opened his doors. While John did sell figures subsequently, they were a small part of his sales and were probably supplied by Ralph. Ralph and John were brothers. John had helped Ralph financially in the past and it is unlikely that he would have competed in figure production with his brother.
What of the hypothesis that Ralph Wood modeled nothing but bought his models from others? Frank Falkner, writing in 1912, strongly believed that RW was, like his father, a modeler. He gleaned this information from early family papers and oral family history. Ralph Wood I was a modeler for the Big House Wedgwoods until his death in 1772. Ralph Wood II worked at the Big House at least from 1769, when he finished his apprenticeship, and it seems reasonable to believe he acquired modeling skills from his father. Ralph Wood II’s childhood was dominated by modeling. His father, Ralph I, and uncle, Aaron, were leading modelers of their time; his cousin William was to become a leading modeler for Wedgwood; his cousin Enoch was a renowned modeler; and his sister Mary married a modeler. Models for the making of molds were expensive. If you could make them in-house, you did—especially if you were cash-strapped, as Ralph Wood II frequently was. Ralph Wood’s ability to fashion his own models explains the extraordinary range of Ralph Wood figures, as well as variations of the same figures. Again and again, we see models adaptations giving rise to a different form of the same figure: “Hay Maker” (impressed 31) occurs with different heads; multiple versions of gardeners, Venus, Jupiter, and other figure forms occur. The ability to create models reduced the need for capital, and this skill was probably critical to Ralph Wood II being able to start his own manufactory just months after his bankruptcy. Hamilton Foyn concludes that strong circumstantial evidence makes it likely that Ralph Wood was creating models in his Bristol shop and was ready to go into production when he returned to Burslem in 1783.
What of Ralph Wood III? After the death of his father in 1795, he continued the Hill Potworks until his own death at the age of 26 in 1801. There is no way of knowing which Ralph Wood figures were made by Ralph Wood III. But we do know that all Ralph Wood figures were made no later than 1801. As such, they fall into what Halfpenny dubs “The First Phase” of enamel figure production (1780-1800). But Halfpenny classifies some Ralph Wood figures as Second Phase (1800-1840)[iii], based on her subjective assessment of their enamel palette. As both Ralph Woods were dead within months of the start of the Second Phase, the validity of this subjective classification must be questioned.
[i] Price, R.K. Astbury, Whieldon, and Ralph Wood Figures and Toby Jugs. p54
[ii]Available from the Fitzwilliam Museum, the Potteries Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Ashmolean, the Wedgwood Museum, and the British Museum
[iii] Halfpenny, Pat. English Earthenware Figures 1740-1840. p189, p201