George Washington 1748 - 1795

This ten-inch high bust of George Washington was made by Ralph Wood the Younger, likely in the late 18th century, using earthenware with a cream-colored glaze. The figure was probably slip-cast in multiple parts from liquid clay, a technique that enabled relatively efficient serial production. This process reflects the increasing industrialization of ceramic manufacture at the time, contrasting with earlier hand-modeling methods. The smooth, pale surface, while classical in its effect, is also indebted to Josiah Wedgwood’s popular creamware, which captured a large share of the market with its refined, mass-producible wares. Wood’s decision to depict Washington in this medium speaks to a burgeoning market for patriotic imagery, catering to an aspirational middle class keen to express their political identity through consumer goods. This bust reminds us that even iconic figures like Washington could become commodities, their likenesses shaped by the demands of production and consumption.