Torbern Bergman
Trial Portrait Medallion
ca. 1786-1787 (made)
ca. 1786-1787 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
Portrait medallions had long been made in metal, and were popular in wax and ivory in mid-18th century England. Wedgwood, however, was the first person to manufacture them in stoneware on a commercial scale.
Use
Wedgwood's medallions of 'Modern Subjects' were probably hung on the wall, in wood or brass frames, to display the political and cultural allegiances of the household. Sets of portrait medallions were also kept in cabinets. Wedgwood's letters indicate that his 'Modern Subjects' sold best when their subjects were most topical.
People
Torbern Bergman (1735-1814) was a Swedish chemist and natural historian. He is remembered for his contributions to the science of analysis and for his investigations into volcanic action.
Design & Designing
Wedgwood probably copied the portrait from a glass paste medallion manufactured by James Tassie (1735-1799). Tassie in turn probably copied his portrait from a plaster relief by the Swedish sculptor Tobias Sergel (1740-1814), which is now in the National Museum, Sweden.
Materials & Making
The medallion is made of Jasper, a fine-grained stoneware that Wedgwood developed as a material for manufacturing medallions and gems. It was one of a range of new materials that he introduced to meet changes in taste.
Portrait medallions had long been made in metal, and were popular in wax and ivory in mid-18th century England. Wedgwood, however, was the first person to manufacture them in stoneware on a commercial scale.
Use
Wedgwood's medallions of 'Modern Subjects' were probably hung on the wall, in wood or brass frames, to display the political and cultural allegiances of the household. Sets of portrait medallions were also kept in cabinets. Wedgwood's letters indicate that his 'Modern Subjects' sold best when their subjects were most topical.
People
Torbern Bergman (1735-1814) was a Swedish chemist and natural historian. He is remembered for his contributions to the science of analysis and for his investigations into volcanic action.
Design & Designing
Wedgwood probably copied the portrait from a glass paste medallion manufactured by James Tassie (1735-1799). Tassie in turn probably copied his portrait from a plaster relief by the Swedish sculptor Tobias Sergel (1740-1814), which is now in the National Museum, Sweden.
Materials & Making
The medallion is made of Jasper, a fine-grained stoneware that Wedgwood developed as a material for manufacturing medallions and gems. It was one of a range of new materials that he introduced to meet changes in taste.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Torbern Bergman (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Jasper, with applied relief |
| Brief description | Trial portrait medallion of Torbern Bergman (1735-1814), Swedish chemist and natural historian; Jasper relief on Jasper 'dip' ground; Josiah Wedgwood, Etruria, Staffordshire, probably about 1786-7. |
| Physical description | Oval medallion with head and shoulders portrait in low relief white Jasper stoneware on a very pale green Jasper dip ground; he is shown without a wig and facing right; the front impressed 'BERGMAN' below truncation; the back impressed 'WEDGWOOD' and inscribed 'ground new 1681' and 'head old 1681' and with two large firing holes. White Jasper stoneware low relief applied to a Jasper 'dip' ground both relief and support produced in a mould and luted together before firing. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
This medallion was an experimental piece using two different versions of the Jasper formula. On the reverse Wedgwood inscribed 'ground new 1681' and 'head old 1681'. He conducted thousands of experiments on Jasper between about 1772 and 1777 and continued to improve the recipes during the following decade.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Given by Mrs Ursula Vaughan Williams |
| Object history | Formerly Loan: V.Williams.2. Made at Josiah Wedgwood's factory, Etruria, Staffordshire; based on a plaster medallion by Johan Tobias Sergel (born in Stockholm, 1740, died in Stockholm, 1814) Provenance: by descent through the Wedgwood, Darwin and Vaughan Williams families. |
| Production | after a plaster medallion by T. Sergel |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type Portrait medallions had long been made in metal, and were popular in wax and ivory in mid-18th century England. Wedgwood, however, was the first person to manufacture them in stoneware on a commercial scale. Use Wedgwood's medallions of 'Modern Subjects' were probably hung on the wall, in wood or brass frames, to display the political and cultural allegiances of the household. Sets of portrait medallions were also kept in cabinets. Wedgwood's letters indicate that his 'Modern Subjects' sold best when their subjects were most topical. People Torbern Bergman (1735-1814) was a Swedish chemist and natural historian. He is remembered for his contributions to the science of analysis and for his investigations into volcanic action. Design & Designing Wedgwood probably copied the portrait from a glass paste medallion manufactured by James Tassie (1735-1799). Tassie in turn probably copied his portrait from a plaster relief by the Swedish sculptor Tobias Sergel (1740-1814), which is now in the National Museum, Sweden. Materials & Making The medallion is made of Jasper, a fine-grained stoneware that Wedgwood developed as a material for manufacturing medallions and gems. It was one of a range of new materials that he introduced to meet changes in taste. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.81-1999 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | January 27, 2000 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
