A STAFFORDSHIRE PEARLWARE FIGURE OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

CIRCA 1785-1795, PROBABLY RALPH WOOD

Details

A STAFFORDSHIRE PEARLWARE FIGURE OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Circa 1785-1795, probably Ralph Wood
Modelled standing with head tilted slightly back, his right hand extended and his left holding an open book resting against his thigh, wearing a brown cloak, long green coat, green vest, ruffled jabot, pale-yellow breeches and brown shoes, on a stepped square pedestal, moulded on three sides with ribbon-tied classical portrait medallions
13½ in. (34.2 cm.) high

Provenance

Purchased from Stoner & Evans, London, February 1947 (paper label)

Lot Essay

See Frank Falkner, The Wood Family of Burslem, London, 1912, p. 16, pl. IX, illus. no. 37. Here the author notes that the portrait 'shows a lifelike expression of the American philosopher, who in 1757 met with such appreciation in England'. Also see Major Cyril Earle, The Earle Collection of Early Staffordshire Pottery, Hull, 1915, p. 70-71, no. 118, for a white example and an Anonymous sale, Christie's London, 9 November 1970, lot 34 for an example inscribed Dr. Franklin.

See P.D. Gordon Pugh, Staffordshire Portrait Figures, New York, 1971, plate 20A center, for an image from the Illustrated London News of 25 October 1856 celebrating the unveiling of a statue of Franklin located in Boston, which bears a striking resemblence to the present example.

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