Kiln Devices and Tools

Wedgwood

  • Titles Kiln Devices and Tools (Descriptive)
  • Artist Wedgwood, England, est. 1759
  • Medium ceramic
  • Credit Line Collection of the Art Fund, Inc. at the Birmingham Museum of Art; The Buten Wedgwood Collection, gift through the Wedgwood Society of New York, AFI.4373.2008.1-.25
  • Work Type tools
  • Classification Tools & Equipment

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Large group of solid white and solid blue jasper with white and green jasper relief, on a stepped blue base the white figure of Minerva as Britannia Triumphant sits atop a globe encircled in blue with the signs of the zodiac, her helmet is plumed and crowned with a sphinx above a wreath of green laurel leaves; Britannia is draped in a classical gown with cape and wears a breastplate with the winged head of Minerva, her left hand supports a blue and white portrait medallion of King George III as a Roman emperor, which rests on her knee, and her right hand is raised -- it originally held a trident; Britannia's sandaled feet rest upon France, represented as a distressed and angry fallen female figure of white jasper holding a torch in each hand (the right hand torch is broken, the flame of the left is partially missing), the watchful white jasper British lion stands at Britannia's right, at her left is the blue and white shield of Great Britain as well as a large white cornucopia overflowing with fruits, vegetables, and grains as symbols of strength, victory, and plenty; behind Britannia are various symbols of war and the British navy, all in white jasper: a cannon and cannon balls, a flag, a ship's prow and anchor, a breastplate, helmet, and sword, a shield, and a quiver of arrows.
Covered urn of white stoneware, urn-shaped and footed, resting on a small white square plinth, the body of the urn covered with a rich agate, or crystalline, glaze in imitation of stone in shades of brown, tan and gray, the two gilded handles in the form of ram's heads, whose horns curve up and around and attach to the shoulder, the neck with a small band of beading in the middle, with a small cover with ball finial (not original).
Large Baroque garden vase of a deep, cobalt-blue (bleu persan), tin-glazed earthenware, of traditional vase shape with two heavy handles, each comprised of a molded, winged grotesque figure whose lower body terminates in outward flowing stylized foliage, the entire outer body of the vase highlighted with bluish-white overglaze enamel with a band of scrolling foliage under the lip and around the base and a band of lappets around the foot, each side of the body contains a central reserve painted with similar chinoiserie landscape scenes with two seated figures, exotic trees and foliage, and a group of temple-like structures, the reserves outlined by scrolling, stylized foliage; with three holes for drainage.
Small hollow drum for a lamp or candelabrum of white jasper with dark blue jasper dip and white relief decoration, round and with a hole at each end, the body with a band of oak leaves at the bottom and a band of intersecting circles at the top, the central body with four small relief scenes including, Cupid as Oracle; Endymion on Latmos; Hebe giving sustenance to the Eagle; and Coriolanus (Coriolanus with his wife and mother who entreat him to return to Rome), between a series of dividers comprised of acanthus leaves and anthemion motifs.