Antique English Pottery Variegated Surface Bough Pots, Probably Ralph Wood

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Description

Encrusted Elegance: English Variegated Surface Bough Pots

Object: Pair of Bough Pots (Flower Vases)
Origin: England, Staffordshire region, Attributed to … Read more Encrusted Elegance: English Variegated Surface Bough Pots

Object: Pair of Bough Pots (Flower Vases)
Origin: England, Staffordshire region, Attributed to Ralph Wood, Birch & Whitehead, or Breeze & Wilson
Date: Circa 1780-1800
Medium: Earthenware with Applied Clay Slip (Variegated Surface)

Dimensions: 7 3/4 inches wide x 4 inches high x 3 3/4 inches deep.

This handsome pair of bough pots is a rare and refined example of decorative English earthenware from the late 18th century. Designed to hold cut flowers or fragrant boughs on a mantelpiece or window ledge, these pots are defined by their unusual variegated surface, a highly tactile and complex finish also known as "pebbled" or "encrusted" ware .

The finish was achieved by carefully applying small chips of crushed clay (grog) or colored slip over the body before firing, creating a striking texture that resembles encrusted rock or coarse earth. This rough, naturalistic surface contrasts sharply with the smooth, refined white body and the bright blue banding applied to the rims. The pierced tops are a functional design element, intended to stabilize and arrange floral arrangements. The pots' semicircular shape confirms they were specifically designed to be displayed as a facing pair against a flat surface, such as a fireplace mantel.

Historical Context: Experimental Surfaces

The development of sophisticated surface treatments like the variegated technique was characteristic of the major Staffordshire potteries during the transition from Creamware to Pearlware. Makers like Ralph Wood, as well as later potters such as Birch & Whitehead or Breeze & Wilson, experimented endlessly with glazes, enamels, and textures to appeal to the affluent domestic market. These complex, three-dimensional surfaces provided a visually rich alternative to the popular transfer-printed wares of the time, signifying both the wealth of the owner and the technical prowess of the maker. The survival of this pair in such excellent condition highlights their esteemed place in the Georgian-era home.

References

Rickard, Jonathan. Mocha and Related Dipped Wares, 1770-1939 (Page 119, figure 184, for a similar shape and discussion of related techniques).

Victoria & Albert Museum, London: Their Ceramics Collection holds a single example of a bough pot utilizing this surface technique.

Staffordshire Pottery Studies: Publications focusing on the works of Ralph Wood, Birch & Whitehead, and the use of 'grog' or crushed clay in early 19th-century ceramic decoration.

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