Fox with dead cockerel 1765 - 1785

This earthenware figure of a fox with a dead cockerel was made by Ralph Wood the Younger in Staffordshire, England, sometime in the late 18th century. It's a great example of the kind of decorative objects that were being produced at the time, using molds and colored glazes that mimicked more expensive porcelain. The reddish-brown glaze on the fox is particularly effective, giving the figure a sense of warmth and life, while the green glaze on the base suggests a natural setting. The labor involved in creating this piece would have been significant, with different workers specializing in each step of the process, from mixing the clay to applying the glazes. It reflects the growing consumer culture of the time, where people were eager to decorate their homes with affordable, stylish objects. Ultimately, this figure invites us to consider the complex relationship between art, industry, and social life in the 18th century, and to appreciate the skill and artistry that went into even the most mass-produced objects.