Art: Ralph Wood Ware

Ralph Wood, scion of a Staffordshire land-owning family in the 18th Century, was a friend of Josiah Wedgwood. But he and his son of the same name, as well as Aaron and Enoch, relatives, established a pottery school of distinct originality. Their glazed figurines, known to connoisseurs as the equals of Chinese Ming, have a sculpturesque strength of modeling and a variety of contrasting colors that have made them beloved of collectors. A collection of Ralph Wood pottery which has taken 16 years to assemble is being shown at the Partridge Gallery, London. Statuettes of Benjamin Franklin, Alderman Beckford, George Whitefield, equestrian figures, fantastic animal pieces, Toby jugs, originally sold for a few shillings, but now worth hundreds of pounds, are among the rare models. The Woods were the first English potters to mark their work with their names. Their color secrets have apparently died with them.