First Edition Portland Vase, Wedgwood, circa 1793

About the Item

NOTE: We do not keep this in the showroom. Please let us know if you're visiting and would like to see it. Rarely does a first edition Portland vase come onto the market, and even more rarely such a perfect example. The model for this is the Portland vase in the British Museum, a spectacular piece of cased glass made somewhere around 200AD. Josiah Wedgwood borrowed it from the then owner, the Duke of Portland, and created a small number of copies in jasperware, perhaps as many as 40. Of those known, all but a handful are now in museums and art galleries. They vary from failed early trials to the occasional perfect example, such as this one. This example has not so much as a firing crack to mar its perfection. The undercutting, the shading, the silken feel of this early jasper combine to make this one of the very best examples. This example was only identified in the last few years, when it was offered for auction in New York, described as a 19th century unmarked example. The quality alone speaks of its authenticity, but other factors also attest. The construction of the base, in particular, tells us this is an original. The relief goes all the way to the edge, and can be seen when the vase is viewed in profile, later editions have a rim added to the edge. The handles are slightly uneven in height, which is true of the glass original, but was 'corrected' in later editions. When you look down into the vase with strong light, a circular hole is seen in the centre of the base disc. This hole is common to all the first edition vases we have been able to examine, but has never been observed on a later edition. Lastly, the shading is delicate in the extreme, using two tones of black, another feature not found on the later editions. Many known examples are numbered in pencil on the inside of the neck, this one appears to be numbered 11, although it is difficult to be certain - see the second last picture. Number 11 is identified in the traditional lists as being in the Tulk Collection, which would make it the one now in the V&A in London. However, the museum tells us their copy is not numbered. Exhibited: Wedgwood, Master Potter to the Universe, Roche Foundation, 2023.

Creator:
Wedgwood (Manufacturer)
Dimensions:
Height: 10 in (25.4 cm)Width: 7.5 in (19.05 cm)Depth: 7.5 in (19.05 cm)
Style:
Neoclassical (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Pottery
Place of Origin:
England
Period:
Late 18th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1793
Condition:
Seller Location:
Melbourne, AU
Reference Number:
Seller: 50121stDibs: LU3151321714722
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Wedgwood

Arguably the most celebrated of all English ceramics makers, Wedgwood was founded in 1759 by potter Josiah Wedgwood (1730–95) in Staffordshire, which was home at one time to hundreds of pottery workshops. The company is famed for its Jasperware — molded neoclassical stoneware vases, plates and other pieces inspired by ancient cameo glass, featuring white figures, scenes and decorative elements set in relief on a matte-colored background. The best-known background hue is light blue, but Wedgwood’s iconic silhouettes also appear on green, lilac, yellow, black and even white grounds. Some antique Wedgwood dinnerware pieces and other items feature three or more colors.

The Wedgwood firm first came to prominence for its tableware, which quickly gained favor in aristocratic households throughout Britain and Europe. In 1765, Wedgwood was commissioned to create a cream-colored earthenware service for Queen Charlotte, consort of King George III. The queen was so thrilled with her new china that Wedgwood was given permission to call himself “Potter to Her Majesty,” and the decorative style became known as Queen’s Ware.

Not to be outdone, Catherine the Great of Russia commissioned her own set of Wedgwood china in 1773. Nearly 200 years later, the firm created a 1,200-piece service for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. In recent years, leading designers including Jasper Conran and Vera Wang have collaborated with Wedgwood — in the tradition of such distinguished 18th-century artists such as the painter George Stubbs and metalsmith Matthew Boulton.

From plates and other dinnerware to decorative items like urns, cachepots and candlesticks, Wedgwood designs lend a traditional air to Anglophile interiors. And even if you have to make your own tea, you may find it comforting to sip it from a delicate cup that was manufactured in the same Stoke-on-Trent kiln that produced Her Majesty’s tea service. Be sure to keep your pinky raised.

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