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'Prometheus' Vase

Vase and Cover
1867 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Vase and cover, earthenware, painted, with coloured glazes. It is decorated in imitation of maiolica though the base is decorated with snakes in the manner of the 16th century French ceramicist, Bernard Palissy. The scenes on the bowl of the vase represent The Rape of the Sabines. This vase and its companion took their name however from the cover, where an eagle feeds on the liver of Prometheus, a punishment of Zeus for stealing fire from the gods and bringing it back to earth. The vase is thus a typical 19th century virtuoso piece in its command of technique and visual scenes.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Vase
  • Cover
Title'Prometheus' Vase (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Earthenware, painted in enamels and majolica glazes
Brief description
'Prometheus' or 'Captive' vase, earthenware with coloured glazes, modelled by Victor Simyan, painted in enamels by Thomas Allen at the Minton Factory, England, 1867
Physical description
Vase and cover, earthenware, painted, with coloured glazes. It is decorated in imitation of maiolica though the base is decorated with snakes in the manner of the 16th century French ceramicist, Bernard Palissy. The scenes on the bowl of the vase represent The Rape of the Sabines. This vase and its companion took their name however from the cover, where an eagle feeds on the liver of Prometheus, a punishment of Zeus for stealing fire from the gods and bringing it back to earth. The vase is thus a typical 19th century virtuoso piece in its command of technique and visual scenes.
Dimensions
  • Height: 4ft
  • Width: 1.8ft (Note: Including handles)
  • Diameter: 11.5in (Note: Of foot)
All dimensions taken from Registered Description.
Object history
Designed and modelled by Victor Etienne Simyan (born in Saint-Gangoux-le-Royal, France, 1826, died in 1886);inted by Thomas Allen (born in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire 1831, died in 1915); made by Minton & Co., Stoke- on-Trent, Staffordshire. Exhibited by Minton at the Paris Exhibition of 1867. The painter Thomas Allen, worked for Minton from 1854 to 1875 and subsequently for the firm of Wedgwood.
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
1048:1, 2-1871

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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