Portrait Medallion
ca. 1780 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Ever since Josiah Wedgwood introduced his new jasperware clay in the early 1770s, portrait medallions like this one have been produced.
Wedgwood's portrait medallions vary greatly in size, from less than two centimetres to large plaques the size of a dinner plate or more. They depict famous public figures in history, politics and the arts from Britain, the Continent and America, who were well-known at the time. Sometimes, however, these names are now unfamiliar or not known at all.
Frederick II of Prussia was born in 1712 as the son of Frederick William I of Prussia and Sophia Dorothea of Hanover, daughter of King George I of England. Prussia greatly expanded its territories and became a major military power under his rule which earned him the by-name 'the Great'. He was well known in Britain and Wedgwood produced at least three of his likenesses as portrait medallions.
Wedgwood's portrait medallions vary greatly in size, from less than two centimetres to large plaques the size of a dinner plate or more. They depict famous public figures in history, politics and the arts from Britain, the Continent and America, who were well-known at the time. Sometimes, however, these names are now unfamiliar or not known at all.
Frederick II of Prussia was born in 1712 as the son of Frederick William I of Prussia and Sophia Dorothea of Hanover, daughter of King George I of England. Prussia greatly expanded its territories and became a major military power under his rule which earned him the by-name 'the Great'. He was well known in Britain and Wedgwood produced at least three of his likenesses as portrait medallions.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Jasperware with applied relief |
| Brief description | Portrait medallion of Frederick II (called 'The Great') of Prussia, jasperware with applied relief, Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, Etruria, c. 1780 |
| Physical description | White jasperware portrait medallion with blue surface slip and white relief. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | V&A Wedgwood Collection. Presented by Art Fund with major support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, private donations and a public appeal. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Ever since Josiah Wedgwood introduced his new jasperware clay in the early 1770s, portrait medallions like this one have been produced. Wedgwood's portrait medallions vary greatly in size, from less than two centimetres to large plaques the size of a dinner plate or more. They depict famous public figures in history, politics and the arts from Britain, the Continent and America, who were well-known at the time. Sometimes, however, these names are now unfamiliar or not known at all. Frederick II of Prussia was born in 1712 as the son of Frederick William I of Prussia and Sophia Dorothea of Hanover, daughter of King George I of England. Prussia greatly expanded its territories and became a major military power under his rule which earned him the by-name 'the Great'. He was well known in Britain and Wedgwood produced at least three of his likenesses as portrait medallions. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | WE.5251-2014 |
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| Record created | March 10, 2017 |
| Record URL |
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