18th Century Regal Guardians: Ralph Wood Type Pearlware Lions:

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Regal Guardians: Ralph Wood Type Pearlware Lions:

A True Pair: 18th Century Pearlware Lion and Lioness

This magnificent, true pair … Read more Regal Guardians: Ralph Wood Type Pearlware Lions:

A True Pair: 18th Century Pearlware Lion and Lioness

This magnificent, true pair of pearlware pottery figures—a majestic lion and its powerful lioness—date to the late 18th Century and are strongly associated with the high-quality folk-art output of the Ralph Wood type workshops in Staffordshire. Displayed facing one another, these figures exude a regal, yet slightly naive, charm typical of the period's decorative ceramics.

Each animal is modeled standing proudly on a slightly domed, hollow base rendered in a dynamic mottled green and brown glaze to represent a grassy mound. The figures themselves are coated in a naturalistic brown glaze that flows and pools in the crevices of the modeling, highlighting the deeply textured mane of the male lion and the sleek musculature of the lioness. The use of pearlware—a refinement of creamware with a whiter body and a subtle blue tint to the glaze—indicates a superior quality object intended for display.

Historical Context: The Majesty of Staffordshire Figures
Figures of lions and lionesses were highly popular in 18th and 19th-century English pottery, symbolizing Britain’s national pride and military strength. The Ralph Wood family of potters were renowned for their vibrant, often polychrome-glazed figures, which are prized for their distinctive aesthetic appeal and expressive modeling. While the specific workshop is often difficult to definitively attribute without a mark, the style and use of pearlware place them firmly within this celebrated tradition.

These figures would have originally graced a mantelpiece, sideboard, or cabinet, reflecting the owner's taste for decorative arts imbued with patriotic symbolism. The form of the lion is referenced in major collections, confirming its place in the history of Staffordshire ceramics.

Attribution: Ralph Wood Type (Staffordshire)

Period: 18th Century (Late Georgian Era)
Medium: Pearlware Pottery, Glazed
Subject: True pair of Lion and Lioness, symbols of British strength
Decoration: Naturalistic brown and mottled green glazes
Dimensions: Height: 5 3/8 inches; Length: 5 3/4 inches

Condition Note: The lion's legs have been invisibly repaired, which is common for slender-limbed antique pottery figures.

(Ref: NY8579-imrr) See less