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Black basalt figure of Bacchus. Wedgwood C1780.
About the Item
Exceptionally 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 also encompasses themes of death and rebirth, evident in his rituals that symbolically enacted these cycles. His cult was particularly notable for its promise of liberation from the physical and spiritual constraints of the world, offering a mystical union with the divine through ecstatic celebration. This duality of joy and chaos makes Bacchus a complex figure, embodying both the liberating and the uncontrollable aspects of human nature.
- Creator:Wedgwood (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 10.63 in (27 cm)Width: 4.73 in (12 cm)Depth: 3.15 in (8 cm)
- Style:Neoclassical (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Stoneware,Molded
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1780-1789
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1780
- Condition:Repaired: Professional, invisible restoration to one leg and arm.
- Seller Location:Melbourne, AU
- Reference Number:Seller: 58381stDibs: LU3151339492542
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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