A Pair of Wedgwood Black Basalt Dolphin Candlesticks
View Similar Items
A Pair of Wedgwood Black Basalt Dolphin Candlesticks
About the Item
- Creator:Wedgwood (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 9 in (22.86 cm)Width: 6.5 in (16.51 cm)Depth: 3.5 in (8.89 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Neoclassical (Of the Period)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:c1840
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Katonah, NY
- Reference Number:Seller: 35/711stDibs: 1306078665503
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.
- Set Dozen Wedgwood Creamware Dinner Dishes Made England 1904By WedgwoodLocated in Katonah, NYMade in 1904, the border design on this set of Wedgwood dinner dishes was inspired by designs in Josiah Wedgwood's mid-18th century First Pattern Book. The red berries and beige leaves on the vine combine perfectly with the creamy color of the creamware plate. The result is a subtle beauty. The underside of the dishes has an impressed mark for Wedgwood and "W G" for August 1904. Dimensions: diameter 9.25" x .75" height Condition: Excellent Price: $1120 Background of Early 20th Century Wedgwood: In the late 19th century, Wedgwood designs were mostly influenced by the Aesthetic and Arts and Crafts movements. In 1904 Wedgwood promoted John Goodwin...Category
Early 20th Century English Neoclassical Dinner Plates
MaterialsCreamware
- Set 18 Wedgwood Creamware Dessert or Salad Dishes England, circa 1820By WedgwoodLocated in Katonah, NYMade in England in the early 19th century, circa 1815, these Wedgwood dessert or salad dishes are a beautiful and sophisticated set. The combination o...Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Neoclassical Dinner Plates
MaterialsCreamware
- Wedgwood Creamware Platter or Charger 18th Century Made in England Circa 1785By WedgwoodLocated in Katonah, NYThis Wedgwood creamware round platter or charger was made in 18th century England circa 1785. The border is decorated with a traditional neoclassical design of iron-red flower heads...Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Neoclassical Decorative Dishes and Vid...
MaterialsCreamware
- 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
- 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
- Pair Antique Candlesticks Made in England circa 1850Located in Katonah, NYA pair of charming drabware candlesticks painted with delicate bands of small flowers and bands of gilt on a beige ground. Dimensions: 7,25 inches tall x 3.75 inches diameter at the ...Category
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Candlesticks
MaterialsStoneware
- Pair of Rosso Antico Candlesticks, Wedgwood, circa 1820By WedgwoodLocated in Melbourne, VictoriaA rare pair of bell shaped candlesticks in rosso antico, with black decoration of ‘Boys at Play’.Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Neoclassical Pottery
MaterialsStoneware
- 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
- 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
- Black basalt figure of Bacchus. Wedgwood C1780.By WedgwoodLocated in Melbourne, VictoriaExceptionally rare early figure of Bacchus in black basalt. The mixed-case mark places this figure between 1780 and 1785. He is portrayed in typical style, his head garlanded with grapes and with a wine cup to his lips. Bacchus, also known as Dionysus in Greek mythology, is the enigmatic god of wine, fertility, and ritual madness. He symbolizes freedom, ecstasy, and the blurring of societal norms through his rituals and festivities. Bacchus is often depicted in myths as a deity who challenges the status quo, promoting an atmosphere where conventional rules do not apply, and his followers are liberated from their everyday constraints. Born from Zeus and the mortal Semele, Bacchus is unique among gods, bridging the divide between the divine and the human. His followers included the wild and ecstatic maenads, female devotees who often reached states of divine frenzy, and the satyrs, mischievous half-man, half-goat beings. The worship of Bacchus was marked by theatrical processions, dances, and plays, reflecting his patronage of the theater and the dramatic arts. Bacchus’s mythology...Category
Antique 1780s English Neoclassical Pottery
MaterialsStoneware
- Encaustic Painted Basalt Vase, Wedgwood, circa 1785By WedgwoodLocated in Melbourne, VictoriaPolished basalt, decorated with Victoria, Goddess of Victory, in her chariot; possibly after a Roman model such as the wall paintings at Herculaneum. T...Category
Antique 1780s English Neoclassical Pottery
MaterialsStoneware
$6,000 Sale Price20% Off - Encaustic Painted Basalt Vase, Wedgwood, circa 1800By WedgwoodLocated in Melbourne, VictoriaA fine, large vase in black basalt, decorated with an encaustic painted figure of a youth, taken from The Hamilton vase in the British Museum. The shape is taken from the Greek Hydria...Category
Antique Late 18th Century English Neoclassical Pottery
MaterialsStoneware