Sweetmeat Dish

Wedgwood

  • Titles Sweetmeat Dish (Descriptive)
  • Artist Wedgwood, England, est. 1759
  • Medium Queen's ware
  • Dimensions 1 3/8 x 7 9/16 x 7 9/16 in. (3.5 x 19.2 x 19.2 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.4154.2008
  • Work Type sweetmeat dish
  • Classification Containers

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Lilac and white jasperware cover probably for a teapot with glazed inside.
The dish is am open, slightly convex shape. Its exterior is decorated with small impressed lines that circle the form. The dish's interior is glazed dark red. There are a couple imperfections in the glaze.
Small heavy, hollow cylindrical drum, with holes at top and bottom, for a chandelier or other lighting device of tricolor jasper – solid white with dark blue and lilac dip – with white jasper bas relief, the body of the drum decorated at the top with a band of white interlocking circles framed by beading on a lilac ground, at the bottom a band of leaves and berries framed by beading on a lilac ground, the central section divided into four reserves on dark blue ground separated by anthemion and acanthus leaf dividers; the reserves hold bas reliefs in white jasper of 1) Nike and a Warrior – Nike carrying a palm branch symbolizing victory stands on one side of the statue of Athena with a helmeted warrior on the other; 2) The Dipping of Achilles – Thetis holds Achilles by the heel as she dips him into a large vase while a women holding two torches looks on, the symbol of a ram's head is attached to a tree; 3) A Sacrifice to Peace – two women performing a sacrifice to peace at a burning altar, one is standing and the other is kneeling with arms and hands poised in a graceful manner, clasped hands appear in relief on the side of the altar and the standing figure holds an olive branch – both are symbols of peace; 4) France and Minerva Joining Hands – the figures of France and Minerva joining hands before an altar upon which stands the figure of Faith, made to commemorate the French Revolution.
Obverse: Emblems of agriculture and commerce with Brunswick's coat of arms. Reverse: A baby in the arms of an angel.