Antique Ethos

Description

Large lidded vase or ginger jar designed by Frederick Rhead for Wood & Sons c1915. Clearly inspired by Charles Rennie Mackintosh's designs together with Secessionist influences. Stylised tubelined roses with elongated stems on a trellis background above a deep-blue body with gilt highlights. Design followed through to the lid with tubelined side and deep-blue to its top. Printed mark for the "Trellis" range and "Wood & Sons, Burselm" and painted pattern number X775M. The jar is 23 cm in height.
The jar and lid are in excellent condition commensurate with age with no crazing, chips, cracks or restoration. Please see images as these form an important part of the description.


The Wood family’s connection to ceramics in Staffordshire goes back at least to the early eighteenth century with brothers Ralph, Aaron and Moses. In 1790 Aaron’s son, Enoch entered into partnership as Wood and Caldwell – then in 1818 after buying out his partner, traded as Enoch Wood EL Sons. They achieved significant success supplying the American market however the business did not survive the start of the American Civil War in 1861. In 1865 Absalom Wood (a descendant of Moses) founded Wood Son and Co – probably with the intention of re-entering the American market after the end of the Civil War. The company passed through successive generations, trading as Wood & Sons from 1907 then Woods & Sons Ltd in 1910 – at which point they had around 1000 employees. By the 1920’s associated companies included H. J. Wood Ltd (at the Alexandra Pottery, Burslem), Bursley Ltd (later renamed Susie Cooper Pottery Co. Ltd, at the Crown Pottery, Burslem) and the Ellgreave Pottery Co Ltd (Ellgreave St, Burslem).  In 1954 The business became a public company as Wood and Sons (Holdings) Ltd. Contesting two aggressive take-over bids in the 70’s followed by recession resulted in the business being sold out of the family’s control in 1982.
Frederick Rhead, who had previously worked at Mintons, Wedgwood and Wileman and Co (Shelley) was appointed as Art Director for Wood and Sons. In 1920 Frederick Rhead and Harry Wood purchased the Crown Pottery and set up Bursley Ltd. Daughter Charlotte Rhead joined the new company until 1926.
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