Sacred to Neptune thumbnail 1
Sacred to Neptune thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 138, The Harry and Carol Djanogly Gallery

Sacred to Neptune

Water Ewer
ca. 1840 (made), 1776 (modelled)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Water ewer of black basalt, moulded in relief, one of a pair representing Wine and Water of which this is emblematical of Water. Ovoid body with incurved shoulder on which is seated a Triton whose arms encircle the neck. The neck, projecting mouth and loop handle are moulded with wavy lines in imitation of ripples, and on the front of the shoulder is a dolphin's mask from which a festoon of rushes hangs down on either side of the body. The lower part of the body is moulded with vertical pointed leaves below a wreath of oak-leaves. The high fluted circular foot rises from a square plinth moulded with a border of anthemion ornament.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSacred to Neptune (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Black basalt, moulded in relief
Brief description
Water ewer 'Sacred to Neptune', black basalt, made at the factory of Josiah Wedgwood, Etruria, ca. 1840, after model first made in 1776.
Physical description
Water ewer of black basalt, moulded in relief, one of a pair representing Wine and Water of which this is emblematical of Water. Ovoid body with incurved shoulder on which is seated a Triton whose arms encircle the neck. The neck, projecting mouth and loop handle are moulded with wavy lines in imitation of ripples, and on the front of the shoulder is a dolphin's mask from which a festoon of rushes hangs down on either side of the body. The lower part of the body is moulded with vertical pointed leaves below a wreath of oak-leaves. The high fluted circular foot rises from a square plinth moulded with a border of anthemion ornament.
Dimensions
  • Height: 41.3cm
  • Width: 17.8cm
Marks and inscriptions
'WEDGWOOD' (Impressed)
Gallery label
Water ewer 'Sacred to Neptune' made at the factory of Josiah Wedgwood, Etruria, Staffordshire, about 1840 after a model first made in 1776 Mark: 'WEDGWOOD', impressed Black Basalt 2397-1901 Jermyn Street Collection This vase and its pair were made after plaster models supplied to Wedgwood by John Flaxman senior in 1775. Flaxman's plasters were, in turn, derived from bronzes by the French sculptor Sigisbert Michel.(23/05/2008)
Credit line
Transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street
Object history
This vase and its pair were made after plaster models supplied to Wedgwood by John Flaxman senior in 1775. Flaxman's plasters were, in turn, derived from bronzes by the French sculptor Sigisbert Michel.
Production
Probably made ca. 1840 after a model first made in 1776. This vase and its pair were made after plaster models supplied to Wedgwood by John Flaxman senior in 1775. Flaxman's plasters were, in turn, derived from bronzes by the French sculptor Sigisbert Michel.
Subjects depicted
Bibliographic reference
Clifford, T. 'Some English Vases and their Sources', Part I, Transactions of the English Ceramic Circle, Vol. 10, part 3, p. 164 and passim, 1978
Collection
Accession number
2397-1901

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Record createdMarch 31, 2008
Record URL
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