Vase and Cover
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.
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.
|
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. The tallest of a garniture of three similar vases. |
Physical description | Ovoid vase and cover in solid agate ware in shades of brown, ochre, olive and grey- green, 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 by a metal rod and bolt to its square base in black basalt, the cover with an acorn knop. |
Dimensions |
|
Style | |
Marks and inscriptions | 'WEDGWOOD & BENTLEY ETRURIA' (Mark impressed in relief on a circular band to the underside of the black basalt plinth) |
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.7:1-2012 |
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 | September 12, 2012 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSON