Coloured-glaze figures were probably introduced between 1775 and 1780. The glazes, coloured with metallic oxides to produce green, yellow, brown, blue and grey, were painted onto the once-fired model, which was then fired again. The clear glaze over the flesh areas often has a slight green or blue tinge, and the latter may be very pronounced. There are numerous models, mainly of rural, classical and biblical subjects or animals.

This class of figure was made by several potters, the best known of whom are John Wood (1746–7)and his brother Ralph Wood II (1748–95). John Wood's sales ledger for 1783–7 in the City Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent, mentions figures from 1783. Its entries indicate that some of the models formerly attributed to his father, Ralph Wood (1715–72), were probably made at his factory at Brownhills, Burslem. During the preceding decade Ralph II had been a glass and earthenware dealer in Bristol. He returned to Burslem in 1783 and by 1784 was in partnership with his cousin Enoch Wood. The duration of this partnership is uncertain but it had probably ended by 1790, when Enoch insured a potworks in his own name alone, and certainly before 1793, when he entered into partnership with James Caldwell (see no. 37). Models marked ‘RWOOD’ or ‘Ra. Wood/Burslem’ were probably made after the cousins split up, and Ralph's heir, Ralph III, may have continued to use these marks until his premature death in 1801.

This model may have been derived from a bronze by Francesco Fanelli (c.1580– C. 1661), who worked in England during the reign of Charles I.