Bust: Sir Isaac Newton

A pearlware bust of Sir Isaac Newton, by Enoch Wood. The oak pedestal adds dignity to an attractive rendering of this great man of science. A handwritten label is attached, but is unreadable, apart from the word "Newton".

Ralph and Enoch Wood were a father and son team of potters from Staffordshire, England, who were active in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. They are known for their creamware and pearlware pottery, which was popular during the late Georgian and early Victorian periods. The Woods' pottery was characterized by its delicate shapes, intricate designs, and high quality glazes. Ralph and Enoch Wood's pottery can be found in many museums and private collections around the world.

Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1726) was an English mathematician, physicist, astronomer, and philosopher who is widely recognized as one of the most influential scientists of all time. He is considered to be the father of modern physics and the key figure in the scientific revolution of the 17th century. Newton's most famous work, "Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica" (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy), published in 1687, laid out his laws of motion and universal gravitation. These laws explained the behavior of both terrestrial and celestial bodies and formed the foundation of classical physics. He also developed calculus, a branch of mathematics that is widely used in physics, engineering, and economics. Newton's other contributions include the development of the reflecting telescope and the discovery of the color spectrum in light. He is widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest minds in the history of science.