A rare Bow figure of Henry Woodward, circa 1750Modelled in the role of The Fine Gentleman from Garrick's farce 'Lethe', wearing a large tricorn hat and frockcoat above a lace-trimmed waistcoat and breeches, the costume delicately modelled and undercut, standing on a square base with canted corners incised with a diamond pattern to simulate floor tiles, left in the white, 27.6cm highFootnotes:ProvenanceSimon Spero exhibition 2012, no.29Mavis Bimson CollectionThe model is taken from an undated mezzotint by James McArdell from a drawing by Francis Hayman. For another example together with Hayman's drawing and McArdell's print, see Raymond C Yarbrough, Bow Porcelain and the London Theatre (1996), pp.28 and 29, figs.40-42. Yarbrough quotes Woodward, who, when appearing in the 'Bays in Council' in Dublin in 1757, wrote 'My figure, too, in Earthenware is shown, So much I'm lov'd and val'd by the town'. Further examples are illustrated by Anton Gabszewicz and Geoffrey Freeman (1982), p.122, fig.187 and Made at New Canton (2000), p.85, fig.72. A dated example inscribed 1750 to the underside is in the Irwin Untermyer Collection, see Yvonne Hackenbroch (1957), pl.77 fig.241 and pl.145, fig.241. A fine coloured pair of Kitty Clive and Henry Woodward from the Godden Reference Collection was sold by Bonhams on 14 April 2010, lot 88 and another white figure of Henry on 18 May 2016, lot 320.

For a large and elaborate figure, generally in good condition save for some areas of restoration as can be seen in the catalogue photo and detailed below. There is discoloured restoration to the lower left corner of his waistcoat and another very small restored area to the corner of his coat also on his left side. There is restoration to the narrow pointed section of the brim of his hat, just above his face. The majority of his large hat being in good condition. The blade of his sword has been restored and a small point on the hilt. There is a small restored chip to the lower edge of the base near the back left corner. The restored area approximately 2cm wide. Otherwise, there are a handful of tiny chips and nicks to some of the sharp edges of the modelling, including one on his right cuff. There are several minor firing cracks, none of which are significant. There is a little crazing to the glaze at points, also of no significance.