Roman Soldiers

Wedgwood

About 1775-1800

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Bust in profile right with pearls in hair, diadem, and ermine mantle, whose chain rests on the breast.
Obverse: Portrait bust in profile right. Reverse: A rocky mountain in clouds with a crown above and a warrior storming the summit with shield and sword below.
Large covered vase of white stoneware covered with a deep, glossy blue glaze, white relief, and gilding (Victoria Ware), the square base with gilt edges and on each of the four sides a stylized florette in white relief highlighted in gold with leafy white and gold elements extending from each side, the round foot with a band of overlapping acanthus leaves in gold and a band of white and gold oak vines with acorns, the body of the vase is urn shaped and the lower body is decorated with large, stylized, feather-shaped leaves (stiff leaf or waterleaf motifs) in white relief with gold between stylized, gilded lotus plants, the central body is decorated with heavy floral swags in white relief and highlighted in gold, held together with long gold ribbons and anchored with gold lion masks, the wide, flat shoulder with a double gilded border and between this gold acanthus leaves, the tapered neck with stylized, feather-shaped leaves in white relief and highlighted in gold between heavily gilded anthemion motifs, the neck edge with a band of gold beading, with two scrolled, leafy handles in white and gold, the domed cover with similar feather-shaped leaf and lotus motifs, and with a blue tear-drop finial.
Deep, round, footed bowl of red earthenware, the sides are decorated with an alternating pattern of horizontal lines and stylized sheaves of wheat, the bright blue glaze of the body (the foot is left unglazed) pools in the crevices of the design to leave the color of the clay visible on the raised portions, the glaze also thins at the rim to reveal the color of the clay beneath.