Pair of Wedgwood Black Basalt Sphinxes Made, circa 1840
View Similar Items
Pair of Wedgwood Black Basalt Sphinxes Made, circa 1840
About the Item
- Creator:Wedgwood (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 5 in (12.7 cm)Width: 2.2 in (5.59 cm)Depth: 6 in (15.24 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Neoclassical (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1840
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Katonah, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU866514791051
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.
Find antique Wedgwood pottery on 1stDibs.
- Pair Wedgwood Egyptian Revival Black Basalt Sphinxes Made 18th Century, EnglandBy WedgwoodLocated in Katonah, NYThese stunning Wedgwood black basalt sphinxes are a true masterpiece of Wedgwood craftsmanship and artistry. These mythical creatures are a sight to behold with their majestic woman's head, mighty lion's body, and elegant wings. Each sphinx sits atop a raised rectangular base, adorned with a geometric design of circles and fleur-de-lis. Each sphinx features a 'lotus flower' nozzle to hold candles, adding a touch of whimsy and charm. Made in the eighteenth century, circa 1785, these sphinxes showcase Wedgwood's exceptional attention to detail and dedication to quality. The underside of each sphinx is marked with an impressed "Wedgwood" signature in lowercase letters. With a height of 10.2", a depth of 7", and a width of 3.6", these sphinxes are truly imposing in size and presence. In excellent condition, this pair is a rare and highly coveted find for collectors of Wedgwood black basalt. Reference: "The Dictionary of Wedgwood" R Reilly and G Savage pg 323. Dimensions: 10.2" height x 7" deep x 3.6" wide Condition: Excellent with tiny edge chips invisibly restored Price: $6,600 Background of Wedgwood black basalt: In the mid-18th century, Josiah Wedgwood created black stoneware, which he named "Black Basalt," as it resembled Egyptian basalt...Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Egyptian Revival Animal Sculptures
MaterialsStoneware
- Pair of Large Antique Luneville Lions Made circa 1800By LunevilleLocated in Katonah, NYWHY WE LOVE THEM: They're majestic! We are pleased to offer this pair of large antique Luneville lions made in France circa 1800. These exceptional lio...Category
Antique Early 18th Century French Animal Sculptures
MaterialsEarthenware
- Pair Porcelain Tureens Antique English Made circa 1840By Copeland SpodeLocated in Katonah, NYWe are pleased to offer this pair of English porcelain tureens painted with a striking chinoiserie decoration. They were made by Copeland Spode circa 1840. The decoration on these tu...Category
Antique 1840s English Qing Soup Tureens
MaterialsIronstone
- Set Eight Wedgwood Dinner Plates Mared Pattern Made England Circa 1840By WedgwoodLocated in Katonah, NYThis set of eight blue and white dinner plates is painted in Wedgwood's Mared pattern. The pattern is characterized by a beautiful shell edge and a loop of "pearls" encircling the ce...Category
Antique 1840s English Neoclassical Dinner Plates
MaterialsEarthenware
- Wedgwood Egyptian Jug Decorated in Black Basalt and Rosso AnticoBy WedgwoodLocated in Katonah, NYThis special edition Wedgwood ale jug is decorated in Egyptian Revival style, showing a sphinx to either side of a firebird in flight. The material is Wedwood's Black Basalt stonewar...Category
Antique Mid-19th Century English Egyptian Revival Pitchers
MaterialsStoneware
- Large Wedgwood Platter Imari Colors with Floral Decorations England Circa 1840By WedgwoodLocated in Katonah, NYA large and lovely Wedgwood platter decorated with the Imari colors of orange and deep blue with accents of light green and gilt. The colorful decoration depicts loose sprigs of leav...Category
Antique Mid-19th Century English Platters and Serveware
MaterialsCreamware
- Wedgwood Black Basalt Bust of George StephensonBy WedgwoodLocated in Montreal, QCBlack basalt bust of George Stephenson, (1781-1848), British railway engineer, considered the father of the modern railway builder of the famous Roc...Category
Early 20th Century English Ceramics
MaterialsCeramic
$780 Sale Price20% Off - Wedgwood Black Basalt Bust of George Washington, circa 1840Located in New York, NYImpressed Wedgwood and Washington on the back.Category
Antique 1840s British Busts
MaterialsCeramic
- Pair of Bacchantes in Black Basalt. Wedgwood C1860.By WedgwoodLocated in Melbourne, VictoriaPerhaps the most complex work in black basalt undertaken on any scale by Wedgwood, the Bacchantes, are adapted from sculptures by Clodion. A large and impressive pair, ful of vigour ...Category
Antique Mid-19th Century English Neoclassical Pottery
MaterialsStoneware
- Wedgwood Black Basalt LionsBy WedgwoodLocated in New Orleans, LAThese stately and imposing lions each recline on a rectangular base, their splendidly carved faces and paws rendered in fine detail, their tails wrapped around their haunches. Caught in repose, the lions wear wise, almost pensive expressions, but Wedgwood's masterful rendering of their musculature hints at the power and ferocity of these magnificent creatures. This work is executed in black basalt...Category
Antique 19th Century English Animal Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain, Stoneware
$4,450 / set - Pair of Flaxman Ewers in Black Basalt. Wedgwood C1830.By WedgwoodLocated in Melbourne, VictoriaOne of the iconic early wedgwood pieces, the pair of ewers Sacred to Neptune & Sacred to Bacchus was designed by Flaxman in the 1780s for Josiah Wedgwood. They have remained popular ...Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Neoclassical Pottery
MaterialsStoneware
- Wedgwood Black Basalt Hedgehog Bulb PlanterBy WedgwoodLocated in Fort Lauderdale, FLA black basalt bulb pot molded as a hedgehog, made by Wedgwood in the middle of the 19th century. Finely molded as a lively little hedgehog, this unique object would have been use...Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Neoclassical Planters and Jardinieres
MaterialsStoneware