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Basalt Portrait Medallion, William of Orange, Wedgwood, circa 1785
About the Item
A self-framing portrait medallion of William of Orange. The mixed-vase mark dates this example firmly in the 1780s. Wedgwood produced a number of commemoratives of important Dutch figures, as they had a substantial export market in The Nettherlands.
William of Orange, also known as William the Silent or William the Taciturn, was a statesman and military leader who played a key role in the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule in the 16th century. He was born on April 24, 1533, in the city of Nassau, in what is now Germany.
William inherited the title of Prince of Orange from his cousin in 1544, and his inheritance included territories in the Low Countries that were part of the Holy Roman Empire. He became a member of the Dutch nobility and a leading figure in the resistance against the Spanish Habsburg Empire, which had taken control of the Netherlands.
As a Protestant, William was a natural leader of the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule, which began in 1568. He organized and led military campaigns against the Spanish and negotiated alliances with other European powers, such as England, to gain support for the Dutch cause. William is credited with being a skilled diplomat and strategist, and his efforts helped lead to the formation of the independent Dutch Republic in 1581.
William was assassinated in 1584 by a fanatical Catholic, Balthasar Gerards, who was angered by William's resistance to Spanish rule and his support for Protestantism. His death was a major blow to the Dutch Republic, but his legacy as a hero of the Dutch struggle for independence lives on. He is still revered as a symbol of Dutch national identity and as an early champion of religious tolerance and freedom.
- Creator:Wedgwood (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 4.5 in (11.43 cm)Width: 3.5 in (8.89 cm)Depth: 0.2 in (5.08 mm)
- Style:Neoclassical (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Stoneware,Molded
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1785
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Melbourne, AU
- Reference Number:Seller: 34721stDibs: LU3151332919012
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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