Portrait Medallion
ca. 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
The modeller John Charles Lochée supplied Wedgwood with reliefs in wax from 1774. He was portrait modeller to several members of the royal family before his bankruptcy in 1791. His portrait reliefs were also reproduced in glass paste by James Tassie (1735-1799).
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. The portrait relief was made in a mould taken from a wax model made by John Charles Lochée. The details on the relief were probably sharpened up before firing with wooden or metal tools.
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
The modeller John Charles Lochée supplied Wedgwood with reliefs in wax from 1774. He was portrait modeller to several members of the royal family before his bankruptcy in 1791. His portrait reliefs were also reproduced in glass paste by James Tassie (1735-1799).
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. The portrait relief was made in a mould taken from a wax model made by John Charles Lochée. The details on the relief were probably sharpened up before firing with wooden or metal tools.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Jasper with blue stain and dip and applied relief |
| Brief description | Portrait medallion of George IV as Prince of Wales |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | British Galleries:
John Charles Lochée, who modelled this portrait, was one of several London sculptors whom Wedgwood employed on a freelance basis. They supplied his factory with the wax reliefs used to make the moulds. As on many of Wedgwood's medallions, the moulded detail has been sharpened by a craftsman using hand tools.(27/03/2003) |
| Object history | Made at Josiah Wedgwood's factory, Etruria, Staffordshire; modelled by John Charles Lochée (born in 1751, died after 1791) |
| 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 The modeller John Charles Lochée supplied Wedgwood with reliefs in wax from 1774. He was portrait modeller to several members of the royal family before his bankruptcy in 1791. His portrait reliefs were also reproduced in glass paste by James Tassie (1735-1799). 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. The portrait relief was made in a mould taken from a wax model made by John Charles Lochée. The details on the relief were probably sharpened up before firing with wooden or metal tools. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 3449-1854 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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