Vase thumbnail 1
Vase thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 118, The Wolfson Gallery

Vase

1790-1800 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
The vase is a purely decorative one. It was probably intended for display in a private library or other domestic interior. It was made at a time when vases were enormously popular. The Staffordshire potter Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795) and his competitors exploited and promoted this fashion, Wedgwood in 1769 boasting of his intention of becoming 'Vase Maker General to the Universe'.

Design & Designing
The figure composition was originally made in 'cut Indian paper' by Elizabeth, Lady Templetown (1747-1823), an amateur artist. Wedgwood reproduced 14 reliefs after her designs, and acknowledged her 'exquisite taste' and 'charming groups' in the 1787 catalogue of his ornamental wares. He probably asked her for designs in the hope that they would appeal to female taste. Wedgwood first made snake-handled vases of this shape in blue Jasper stoneware around 1786. He was clearly pleased with the Jasper versions, as he illustrated one in the English and French editions of his catalogue of ornamental wares of 1787 and 1788. These Jasper versions generally have reliefs of 'Venus in her Chariot', not the figure scenes seen here.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Earthenware
Brief description
Vase of earthenware, designed by Lady Templetown, made by Josiah Wedgwood and Sons Ltd., Etruria, 1790-1800.
Physical description
Vase of earthenware. Ovoid body with a hollow shoulder, high foot on a square plinth with an anthemion border in relief, narrow neck, beads round the mouth, two reeled loop handles rising above the rim, and a serpent coiled about each. The reliefs depict women and children, with Cupid shooting his bow, a lamb, trees and a tripod.
Dimensions
  • Height: 36.83cm
Dimensions checked: Registered Description; 11/02/1999 by KN
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'WEDGWOOD' [Impressed]
  • Two intelaced half circles [twice repeated] (Impressed)
Gallery label
Vase Made at the factory of Josiah Wedgwood, Etruria, Staffordshire, about 1780 Marks: 'WEDGWOOD', impressed, and two interlaced half circles, twice repeated, impressed Lead-glazed earthenware C.799-1935 Herbert Allen Collection Frieze from designs by Lady Templeton(23/05/2008)
Credit line
Bequeathed by Herbert Allen
Object history
Formerly in the collection of Mr. Arthur Rokeby Price.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Object Type
The vase is a purely decorative one. It was probably intended for display in a private library or other domestic interior. It was made at a time when vases were enormously popular. The Staffordshire potter Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795) and his competitors exploited and promoted this fashion, Wedgwood in 1769 boasting of his intention of becoming 'Vase Maker General to the Universe'.

Design & Designing
The figure composition was originally made in 'cut Indian paper' by Elizabeth, Lady Templetown (1747-1823), an amateur artist. Wedgwood reproduced 14 reliefs after her designs, and acknowledged her 'exquisite taste' and 'charming groups' in the 1787 catalogue of his ornamental wares. He probably asked her for designs in the hope that they would appeal to female taste. Wedgwood first made snake-handled vases of this shape in blue Jasper stoneware around 1786. He was clearly pleased with the Jasper versions, as he illustrated one in the English and French editions of his catalogue of ornamental wares of 1787 and 1788. These Jasper versions generally have reliefs of 'Venus in her Chariot', not the figure scenes seen here.
Bibliographic references
  • Lewis, John & Griselda. Pratt Ware. Suffolk : Antique Collectors Club, 1984, 202 p.
  • The Age of Neo-Classicism, London : Arts Council of Great Britain, 1972 No. 1450
Collection
Accession number
C.799-1935

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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