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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 138, The Harry and Carol Djanogly Gallery

Vase and Cover

18th century (made), 1770-75 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Design & Designing
Josiah Wedgwood's move into vase production coincided with the fashionable world taking up the vase as a symbol of the new 'antique' style. The demand for 'antique' vases was so great that, in addition to copying surviving Classical antiquities, manufacturers copied designs from prints of the 17th and 18th centuries. Some of these prints were highly fanciful inventions, which were not seriously intended for production.

Materials & Making
The decoration imitates the veining of agate and other hardstones. This effect was achieved by 'wedging' (blending) coloured clays together. Pottery made in this way is described as 'solid agate ware.' There are no mould seam lines, and the spiralling of the clays inside the vase suggest that it was thrown on a wheel. It was then turned on a lathe and fired and glazed.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Vase
  • Cover
Materials and techniques
Brief description
Vase and cover in solid agate ware with gilded satyr's head handles, made by Wedgwood at Etruria, Staffordshire, ca. 1770-75. One of a pair in a garniture of three similar vases.
Physical description
Ovoid vase and cover in solid agate ware in shades of brown, ochre, olive and light greens, the vase rim applied with a creamware frieze of swagged drapery, gilded, the handles formed as satyrs' heads, also gilded, set on a pedestal foot attached to a square marble base, painted black, the cover with an acorn knop.
Dimensions
  • Height: 19cm
Style
Credit line
Private Collection
Object history
For another Wedgwood agate ware vase with the same satyr handles, see Circ. 1&A-1923.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Design & Designing
Josiah Wedgwood's move into vase production coincided with the fashionable world taking up the vase as a symbol of the new 'antique' style. The demand for 'antique' vases was so great that, in addition to copying surviving Classical antiquities, manufacturers copied designs from prints of the 17th and 18th centuries. Some of these prints were highly fanciful inventions, which were not seriously intended for production.

Materials & Making
The decoration imitates the veining of agate and other hardstones. This effect was achieved by 'wedging' (blending) coloured clays together. Pottery made in this way is described as 'solid agate ware.' There are no mould seam lines, and the spiralling of the clays inside the vase suggest that it was thrown on a wheel. It was then turned on a lathe and fired and glazed.
Associated objects
Bibliographic reference
Mankowitz, Wolf. Wedgwood. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd, 1953. A similar garniture, probably this one, is illustrated, plate 50.
Collection
Accession number
LOAN:CERANON.8:1-2012

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Record createdSeptember 12, 2012
Record URL
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