Antique English Pottery Prattware Figure of "Lost Sheep Found"

Early 19th Century

Antique English Prattware pottery figure of a shepherd carrying a sheep on his shoulders.
This charming pottery figure is known as the "Lost Sheep Found".
The figure symbolizes the respect the farmer has for all his flock and of course there are also strong spiritual overtones.
Both these aspects were very strong features in many parts of English society and culture in the early 19th century. The combined symbolism made this figure very popular of which many different versions were made by numerous English potters. The original design was probably the work of one of Staffordshire's master potters Ralph Wood.
This Prattware version is of high quality with strong definition of molding and excellent applications of the distinctive undergalze oxide colours.The figure has a good pearlware glaze and is a fine and rare example, almost certainly produced at one of the Yorkshire Potteries England.

Literature: Ralph Wood by Frank Partridge.
Prattware By John and Griselda Lewis page 262 illustrates an almost identical figure which is housed in the Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery in Yorkshire England.