Pair of Wedgwood Black Basalt Candlesticks Modeled as Sphinxes

This 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...

This rare and charming pair of 18th-century French creamware lions was made circa 1790. Each lion reclines atop a tall rectangular base decorated with rich cobalt-blue swags, bright yellow tassels, and vivid green trim. The forms are bold and expressive. The lions' open mouths are painted in soft pink, and their manes are rendered in vibrant yellow and lined with dark brown, lending them an animated, almost theatrical presence. The lions rest on what appear to be stylized, draped cushions, adding a sense of comfort and reality. Their wide-eyed expressions and exaggerated features give the pair a whimsical character that blends elegance with humor—a hallmark of late 18th-century French design. Unmarked but unmistakably French in style, these figures make a striking decorative statement. Whether placed on a mantel or console, they command attention and offer a playful counterpoint to more serious classical forms. Dimensions: 6.5 inches tall x 6.75 inches long x 4.5 inches wide Condition: Excellent Price: $2,300 Decoration: Painted in yellow, cobalt, green, pink, and brown with molded drapery and tassel detail Material: Creamware pottery Style: French Neoclassical with Folk Art elements Origin: France Date: Circa 1790 Key Features - Rare pair of large 18th-century creamware lion figures - Expressive hand-painted decoration with bold color contrasts - Tall bases decorated with molded and painted swags and tassels - French origin, circa 1790 - Whimsical and animated expressions add charm and visual interest Background of creamware Creamware is the name given to a type of earthenware pottery initially made from white clays from Dorset and Devonshire combined with an amount of calcined flint. Creamware was first produced in England sometime before 1740. Foremost among the pioneers of creamware in the Staffordshire Potteries was Thomas Whieldon. The young Josiah Wedgwood partnered with Thomas Whieldon from 1754 to 1759. When Wedgwood left to set up his own business, he immediately directed his efforts to developing creamware. Around the same time, in the mid-18th century, French potters developed their creamware known in France as "Faience Fine...

This large pair of French faience lions was hand-painted at the Luneville factory in France circa 1800. They feature bold yellow and black manes, wide...

This exceptional pair of antique black basalt vases was made by Wedgwood & Bentley in the late 18th century, circa 1775. The vases are sculpted in deep solid relief with bacchanalia...

One 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 ...

These 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...

One of history’s greatest thinkers, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, is the subject of this black basalt figure by Wedgwood. The individual features and personality of the celebrated philosoph...

An important homage to love, this large black basalt figure is an impressive example of Wedgwood's artistry and imagination. Cupid, the ancient Roman god of love, is standing amongst billowing clouds with a pair of doves at his feet. Gazing towards earth with one hand shielding his eyes, the other hand holds an arrow. His bow and quiver rest at his side, ready to take aim. "CUPID" is etched into the base. Considered a crowning achievement of Wedgwood, black basalt was created by blending manganese with an iron-oxide rich slurry procured from coal mines called carr. In addition to the impressive color, this combination also provided additional strength and solidity. While it initially proved challenging to fire because of its weight, that same characteristic was advantageous in creating ornaments, lending stability to library...