90. Elijah & the Widow 

Enamel-painted Figures

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90.4a. Attributed to Leather Leaf Group. He is like 90.4 but here we have a pair.

904b. This Elijah is on a base typical of the Leather Leaf Group pot bank....but the clusters of grapes on the leaves are otherwise associated only with the small pot bank dubbed the Grape Group pot bank. This raises the possibility of some linkage between these two pot banks.

90.5a. Attributed to Ralph Wood. The Ralph Wood widow in 90.5 has a child, this Ralph Wood widow does not. Similarly, the Ralph Wood widow in 90.7 lacks a child. I have noted the lack of a child in several other instances.

90.5b. This Widow is marked beneath "Ra. Wood Burslem" and is like the figure impressed "170" shown in figure 90.5

90.5c. The impressed Ralph Wood mark beneath the figure shown in 90.5b.

90.5d. I know, I know, this is repetitious, but I had to add this Ralph Wood pair, both titled Elijah! Again, there is no child.

90.9a. Impressed W beneath. This, coupled with the similarity to 90.9, suggests Ralph Wood made it. However, 90.9a has a line on four sides of the base; also the base from beneath is more typical of Enoch Wood, so perhaps credit goes to him.

90.9b. The base of the previous figure. Only one base finished in this way has been noted on a Ralph Wood figure, but Enoch Wood routinely finished bases thus. "W" is impressed on the bottom of the base.

90.10a. Like 90.10 but with the line painted high on the base. (c) Christie's.

90.10b. Similar to previous but on brown bases. Courtesy eBay seller buckinghamshireantiques.

90.10c. Bases of 90.10b are typical of Enoch Wood but are not exclusive to that pot bank.

90.11a. Courtesy Aalders Auctions.

90.15a. Attributed to Dudson. Companion to Widow in 90.15.

90.17a. Bocage lost. Courtesy Hutchinson Scott Auctioneers.

90.21a. The same model as 90.21, having a large, plump cherub as the child. Lovely titling reads "Widdow."

90.721b. Companion to the previous "Widdow." Courtesy iCollector.

90.19a. Like 90.19 but with the bases painted differently.

90.19b. Like 90.19 and 190.19a but with yet another variation in painting of the base. Courtesy Barsby Auctions.

90.22a.

90.24a. Rather like 90.24 but with pretty base decoration that I don't think is otherwise recorded.

90.24b. Probably made by Hall. Courtesy Andrew Dando.

90.30a. Widow. Attributed to Patriotic Group pot bank. Of the type seen in 90.30a and onward but here painted "1825". Bocage lost. Courtesy Paul Beighton.

90.36a. A particularly fine Patriotic Group pair, with yet another bocage typical of that pot bank.

90.36b. Attributed to Patriotic Group. Same bocage leaves as 90.36a, but the bocage appears to be reattached. Note the title and the tassels on the base. Courtesy Piers Motley Auctions.

90.39a. The same model as the widow in 90.37 and 90.39. Note the similar high mound beneath her and the child.

90.43a. Attributed to "Sherratt." Companion to 90.43, having the same "Sherratt" base.

90.46a. Like 90.45-46 but with different bocages and also attributed to "Sherratt." Courtesy John Howard.

90.47a/ Attributed top "Sherratt." Courtesy Tenants.

90.55a. Attributed to the Box Title Group and a more intact example than is shown in Vol. 4. Courtesy Lawrence's.

90.58a. Attributed to the Tunstall Group. Companion model to Elijah, 90.58. Courtesy Hansons.

90.68. An unusual child.

90.69. A stepped base not seen on the other examples

90.70. An unusual model not seen otherwise, and the child is a cherub.

90.71. Note the unusual titling.

90.72. This widow is only otherwise recorded in underglaze colors, below. (c) Christie's.

90.74. Titling not seen elsewhere.

90.75. This widow has a restored bocage in the "Sherratt" style, but the figure was not made by "Sherratt".

90.76. A beautiful and unusual widow. I don't think I have recorded another from these molds. The enamels suggest a circa 1790 date.

90.77.

90.78 Note the unusual child.

90.79. Courtesy eBay seller art studio gallery.

90.80. Bocage lost. Courtesy eBay seller barrybliss11.

90.81. Attributed to Ralph Wood. This is a figure of Charity that was mistitled! Courtesy McCarthneys.

90.82. Bocage lost. Courtesy eBay seller barrybliss11.

90.83. Attributed to Sherratt. This a different Sherratt model of the Widow, is the only known example. Courtesy ebayer owmuchforthatwidow.

Lakin & Poole figures?
90.77-82.
​I believe the pair in 90.77 and 90.78 was probably made by Lakin & Poole. In addition to the base decoration that occurs on marked Lakin & Poole figures, the interior of the base is consistent with the attribution

90.77.

90.78.

What of these three figures? (The middle figure is in volume 2, figure 90.12.)

90.79. Courtesy Barbara Gair.

90.12. Courtesy Barbara Gair.

90.80

The figures themselves are in a late eighteenth century palette consistent with a Lakin & Poole attribution, but the dark base is not normally associated with this potbank, and the other two marbled bases are more garish than is associated with Lakin. I still suspect that all three are Lakin & Poole figures. I have examined the interiors of two of the bases and they  are closely similar to the bases on the first pair illustrated.

90.81. Base of figure 90.79.

90.82. Base of figure 90.80.

Yet another Ralph Wood model of the Widow?
90.83. This is the only enamel-painted example of this Widow that I have recorded, but the model occurs in underglaze colors, seen below. This figure is decorated in a typical Ralph Wood manner. Could it have been made by Ralph Wood, and where is the mate? I suspect he looked rather like the first Elijah shown among the underglaze figures below--the counterpart in enamels is seen in figure 90.52. Please contact me if you have access to this figure as I require photos of different aspects to attempt an attribution

90.83.

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Underglaze-decorated Figures

Apparently the same model as 90.52 but here in a Pratt underglaze palette. The following Elijah is of the same form, but the raven differs. One or other is restored. (c) Bonhams.

I think this is the companion figure to the previous Elijah. (See 90.83 above for an enamel-painted version. c) Bonhams.

Like the previous Elijah and apparently the same model as 90.52 but here in a Pratt underglaze palette. The raven differs and may be restored.

Again, a companion to the previous Elijah. "WIDDOW" is painted beneath the base. Courtesy Aurea Carter.

Like the previous two Elijahs but with the base decorated differently. This version of the raven (with outstretched wings) appears to be the correct one. Courtesy Historical and Collectable Auctions.

The base of the previous figure with "Elijah" painted beneath. Courtesy Historical and Collectable Auctions.

The unusual titled Widow figure at the back of this group shot is very Tittensor-like in appearance, but there is no basis for attribution. (c) Bonhams.

I deduce this represents a widow, complete with her oil jug and barrel and sticks (in the cherub's hands). (c) Bonhams.

Occurs in enamels. See above and Vol. 4. (c) The Potteries Museum.

Courtesy Martyn Edgell.

Courtesy Richard Opfer Auctioneers.

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Figures Decorated with Colored Glaze

Where are the color-glazed figures of Elijah and the Widow? I can find only the one, the figure of Elijah (below) that is in both Frank Partridge's "Mr. Frank Partridge's Collection of Ralph Wood" and in Frank Falkner's "The Wood Family of Burslem." It was the habit in past times to attribute most color-glazed figure to Wood, and I can see no basis for this attribution, although it is quite possible that Ralph Wood modeled it. Note that the figure is like the Lakin and Poole figure, 90.77, shown above, and perhaps Lakin acquired the molds from Ralph Wood