One of a pair of tall cream-colored, pearlware vases decorated in enamel colors and partially gilt, the gold a dark, brownish color, the small square base with a row of stylized anthemion motifs highlighted in gold, the foot with a border in a modified egg-and-dart pattern likewise picked out in gold, and the lower body of the urn-shaped vase with stylized, individually molded acanthus leaves outlined in gold; the main body of each vase is painted in the round with different delicate and very detailed seascapes that both show a gray and blue cloudy--almost stormy--sky over a choppy turquoise-blue sea, each scene includes a variety of ships with billowing sails, as well as groups of sailors in small row boats attempting to land ashore through rough, foamy waves, the sea also includes debris from the ships floating in the water, above each central scene is a band of overlapping leaves highlighted in gold, and the slender neck includes stylized foliate motifs outlined in gold and a band of beading around the lip; on each vase the two tall, slender, partially-gilt, scrolled handles has a slithery gold snake coiled around it, the snakes' heads rest on the shoulder of the vase.

Vase

Painted by John Holloway, Wedgwood

About 1875

See More of the Collection

Boy's suit; two piece dark green velvet suit, seven waist buttons. Legs trimmed in black silk, ecru machine lace cuffs. One hip pocket and button fly.
Round blue jasper medallion with white relief profile portrait of Thrasybulus (440-388BC) facing right, He was an Athenian general and democratic leader. His public career began in 411 BC, when he frustrated oligarchic rising in Samos . Elected general by the troops, he effected the recall of Alcibiades, a former general accused of having profaned the hermae of Athens. and assisted him in several successful naval campaigns. In 404, when exiled by the Thirty , he retired to Thebes. In the following winter with 70 men, he seized Phyle, a hill fort on Mt. Parnes near Athens. His supporters soon grew so with 1,000 men, he repelled an attack by the oligarchs. In autumn 403, following skirmishes with a Spartan expedition under King Pausanias, a reconciliation was effected and democracy was restored.
Oval blue jasper medallion with white relief profile portrait of Catherine II (The Great), (1729-1796), was Empress of Russia from 1762 until 1796, the country's longest-ruling female leader and arguably the most renowned (although Peter the Great was the only Tsar officially designated as "The Great"[citation needed]). She came to power following a coup d'état when her husband, Peter III, was assassinated. Russia was revitalised under her reign, growing larger as well as stronger in military terms and becoming recognised as one of the great powers of Europe.
Bust in profile left in uniform with medals.