Hercules and the Nimean Lion

Wedgwood

19th century

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One of a set of four large figures of soft-paste porcelain representing the "Four Quarters of the Globe," each depicted as a chubby child dressed in a costume deemed appropriate to his or her region and associated with symbols of the different continents. Africa: the figure of a male child with black skin wearing a green and purple wrap, a bright red coral necklace and an elephant headdress, over his right shoulder is a cornucopia filled with sheaves of wheat, which he supports on his left hip, his right hand grasps a scorpion, symbolic of the mystery and danger of this little known continent, at his feet is a snarling lion, the base decorated with flowers.
Footed coffee pot of white jasper with sage green jasper dip and applied white jasper relief ornament, the foot decorated with a band of acanthus leaves, the lower body with stylized acanthus leaves and lotus flower motifs, the main body divided into reserves with on one side the allegorical figure of Hope leaning on an anchor and on the other the figure of a warrior - possibly Hector - with a suit of armor at his feet as well as a rooster, a sword and shield in his hands, with a band of leafy vines below the shoulder, with a high set spout and leaf-molded handle, the cover with stylized acanthus leaves and lotus flower motifs, with ball finial encased by acanthus leaves, the green jasper dip is a little mottled and uneven.
Small footed cup of creamy beige stoneware with a slightly flared rim, covered with a flecked opaque white glaze upon which are painted simple human and animal figures in greenish gray around the main body of the cup, the foot is unglazed.
Covered, footed urnof black basalt on a thick, plain square base, the foot with Greek key motif around the edge, the bulbous body with fluting at the stem, the upper body with relief decoration in the form of a band of festoon drapery with bows, the shoulder with a band of overlapping acanthus leaves and at the neck a band of bound reeds, the cover a facsimile with ball finial.