Vase
ca. 1773-1775 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This vase is purely decorative and was probably intended for display in a private library or other domestic interior. It was made at a time when vases were enormously popular. Wedgwood exploited and promoted this fashion, boasting of his intention of becoming 'Vase Maker General to the Universe' in 1769. For Wedgwood, the vase form itself had elevated associations. In 1771 he said: 'it is the forms more than the colours of many of the Vases which has raised, & unvulgariz'd them - Make exactly the same pebbles [pottery with mottled glazes like this one] into Tea ware & they are let down to the class of common Pott ware again, many degrees below Queens Ware'.
Design & Designing
The glaze imitates the surface of porphyry or another similar hardstone. In 1770 Wedgwood wrote of his intention to imitate ancient porphyry vases. He asked his business partner to borrow one owned by Lord Besborough so that he could cast a mould from it.
Materials & Making
The vase is made from a type of pottery that has recently been identified as the one Wedgwood marketed as 'white terracotta stoneware.'
This vase is purely decorative and was probably intended for display in a private library or other domestic interior. It was made at a time when vases were enormously popular. Wedgwood exploited and promoted this fashion, boasting of his intention of becoming 'Vase Maker General to the Universe' in 1769. For Wedgwood, the vase form itself had elevated associations. In 1771 he said: 'it is the forms more than the colours of many of the Vases which has raised, & unvulgariz'd them - Make exactly the same pebbles [pottery with mottled glazes like this one] into Tea ware & they are let down to the class of common Pott ware again, many degrees below Queens Ware'.
Design & Designing
The glaze imitates the surface of porphyry or another similar hardstone. In 1770 Wedgwood wrote of his intention to imitate ancient porphyry vases. He asked his business partner to borrow one owned by Lord Besborough so that he could cast a mould from it.
Materials & Making
The vase is made from a type of pottery that has recently been identified as the one Wedgwood marketed as 'white terracotta stoneware.'
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | White terracotta stoneware, with applied reliefs and porphyry glaze |
| Brief description | 'Granite ware' vase and cover, white terracotta stoneware with applied reliefs and porphyry glaze. English, made by Wedgwood about 1773-1775. |
| Physical description | 'Granite ware' vase and cover of white terracotta stoneware with applied reliefs and porphyry glaze. Pear-shaped body with a white laurel wreath round the shoulder and two white scrolled foliated handles. Tall spreading foot, narrow neck with expanding mouth, cover surmounted by a knob. On the front are applied three nude figures of boys eating grapes. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'WEDGWOOD & BENTLEY: ETRURIA' (In relief on an applied circular medallion) |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
By 1770 the 'antique' vase had become a symbol of new Neo-classical style. Wedgwood capitalized on the craze by introducing many designs and techniques to satisfy the demanding market. The glaze here imitates the hardstone porphyry.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology |
| Object history | Made at Josiah Wedgwood's factory, Etruria, Staffordshire |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type This vase is purely decorative and was probably intended for display in a private library or other domestic interior. It was made at a time when vases were enormously popular. Wedgwood exploited and promoted this fashion, boasting of his intention of becoming 'Vase Maker General to the Universe' in 1769. For Wedgwood, the vase form itself had elevated associations. In 1771 he said: 'it is the forms more than the colours of many of the Vases which has raised, & unvulgariz'd them - Make exactly the same pebbles [pottery with mottled glazes like this one] into Tea ware & they are let down to the class of common Pott ware again, many degrees below Queens Ware'. Design & Designing The glaze imitates the surface of porphyry or another similar hardstone. In 1770 Wedgwood wrote of his intention to imitate ancient porphyry vases. He asked his business partner to borrow one owned by Lord Besborough so that he could cast a mould from it. Materials & Making The vase is made from a type of pottery that has recently been identified as the one Wedgwood marketed as 'white terracotta stoneware.' |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 2386&A-1901 |
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| Record created | December 2, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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