Plate

Wedgwood

About 1800

  • Titles Plate (Descriptive)
  • Artist Wedgwood, England, est. 1759
  • Medium stoneware, unglazed
  • Dimensions 1 1/2 x 11 1/4 in. Diam. (3.8 x 28.6 cm)
  • 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.219.2018
  • Work Type plate
  • Classification Containers

See More of the Collection

Chatelaine comprised of a hook at the top from which extend four chains comprised of small, faceted, cut-steel beads set in beaded, cut-steel mounts between simple round links, these are attached to an octagonal, two-sided medallion of white jasper with dark blue jasper dip and white jasper bas relief of on one side "Priam begging the body of Hector" – Priam, King of Troy, begging Achilles for the body of his son Hector – and on the other "Choice of Hercules" in a beaded, cut-steel mount, from the medallion extend five chains, the two outer of which are made of simple faceted, cut-steel beads with tassels at the ends, the two inner of small, faceted, cut-steel beads set in beaded, cut-steel mounts between simple round links and with hooks at the ends, the center chain is shorter and comprised of small, faceted, cut-steel beads ending in a loop, a black basalt seal, or signet (accession number 1977.161) and a blue and white jasper seal, or signet (accession number 1977.160) are attached to the two hooks.
Small white, soft-paste porcelain tea bowl of blanc de chine type with molded prunus decoration on the exterior.
Solid light blue jasper urn with white terracotta stoneware plinth and applied white jasper relief decoration, the small square plinth with molded oval motifs, the round foot with molded acanthus leaf decoration, the lower body with stylized leaf motifs and the main body with a procession of winged cupids (Procession of Little Boys) holding laurel leaf garlands between them with birds at their feet against a stippled ground, a double band of molded beading and guilloche below the shoulder, the shoulder and neck with molded fluting and a band of white jasper beads, with two scrolled handles with oval medallions with sunflowers and beading as terminals, the cover is a facsimile.
Solid light blue jasper tablet with applied white jasper relief decoration with light shading depicting Achilles at Skyros at the time of his discovery and departure, with from left a knight with horse, Lycomedes sitting on the throne, two naked Doryphoroi, or spear bearers, one of Lycomedes daughters in a long girt chiton springing away with a gesture of alarm, Achilles brandishing a sword, his woman's chiton slipping, his lover Deidameia is behind him with her hands on his shoulders, three other male figures, possibly Odysseus, Agamemnon with an attendant, and Diomedes are to the right.