Charity: C.924-1928

Titles

Charity

Maker(s)

Factory: Wedgwood, Ralph

Entities

• Figure group

Categories

• Lead-glazed earthenware
• Pearlware

Description

Lead-glazed earthenware painted in polychrome enamels

Notes

History note: Law, Foulsham & Cole, London, from whom purchased for £8.10s. on 6 November 1916 by Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1928-12-07) by Glaisher, J. W. L., Dr

Dating

18th Century, Late
George III
Circa 1790 - 1797

Note

Charity was one of three Christian theological virtues, and one of seven capital virtues. Allegorical representations of the virtue often portray Charity as a woman accompanied by children.

The group is marked WEDGWOOD impressed. This is not likely to be for Josiah Wedgwood (d. 1795) whose factories at Burslem and Etruria are not known to have produced lead-glazed earthenware figures. The most likely candidate for the production of lead-glazed earthenware figures with this mark was Ralph Wedgwood, the younger son of Thomas Wedgwood, a cousin of Josiah and his partner in the production of useful wares at his Burslem factory. Shortly before his death in 1788 Thomas was planning to set up his own pottery in Burslem- which after his death was run by his younger son, Samuel, trading as Wedgwood & Co. When Samuel died in 1790, Ralph Wedgwood took over the Hill Pottery and ran it until he became bankrupt in 1797. During the last two years of the century he was in partnership with Tomlinson and Foster, of the Knottingley Pottery, Ferrybridge, Yorkshire, which marked its ware WEDGWOOD & CO. This ended in 1800 and he gave up potting and moved to London.

School or Style

Neoclassical