WOOD FAMILY

English family of Staffordshire potters, a major force in the development of Staffordshire wares from peasant pottery to an organized industry.

Its most prominent members were Ralph Wood (1715–72), his brother Aaron (1717–85), and his son Ralph, Jr. (1748–95). Ralph, Jr., was related through his mother to Josiah Wedgwood , and the two names were often linked professionally. The elder Ralph became famous for his extremely well-modeled figures with coloured glazes, and he is credited with introducing the Toby mug. Ralph, Jr., produced a variety of figures, colouring them with enamel rather than glazes, and supplied some of them to Wedgwood. Aaron's son William (1746–1808) was employed as a modeler by Wedgwood. His brilliant brother Enoch (1759–1840) apprenticed with Wedgwood but by 1783 was established as an independent potter in partnership with his cousin Ralph, Jr. In 1818 he continued his firm as Enoch Wood & Sons. Much of his earthenware was exported to the U.S. The firm closed in 1846. See also Staffordshire figure .