Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5

Encaustic Painted Basalt Vase, Wedgwood, circa 1780

About the Item

A fine, large vase in black basalt, decorated with an encaustic painted figure of a youth and an older man, taken from The Hamilton vase in the British Museum. It is unusual to find an example made and fired as a single piece, a sign of early manufacture. Most vases were made in two or more pieces and then bolted together after firing, as they stood up in the kiln better this way. The shape is taken from the Greek Hydria, or water vessel. The hydria is a type of ancient Greek pottery water vessel with two or three handles, used for carrying and pouring water. It typically has a narrow neck, a broad body, and a flared rim. The three handles are used for pouring and carrying the vessel, with one handle on the neck and the other two on the body. The hydria was used for both domestic and religious purposes, and was often decorated with intricate designs and scenes from Greek mythology. They were also used as grave goods in burials. It was one of the most popular forms of Greek pottery during the Classical and Hellenistic periods.
  • Creator:
    Wedgwood (Manufacturer)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 11.5 in (29.21 cm)Width: 12 in (30.48 cm)Depth: 8 in (20.32 cm)
  • Style:
    Neoclassical (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Stoneware,Turned
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 1780
  • Condition:
  • Seller Location:
    Melbourne, AU
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 26591stDibs: LU3151337868572
More From This SellerView All
  • Encaustic Painted Basalt Vase, Wedgwood, circa 1785
    By Wedgwood
    Located in Melbourne, Victoria
    Polished 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

    Materials

    Stoneware

  • Encaustic Painted Basalt Vase, Wedgwood, circa 1800
    By Wedgwood
    Located in Melbourne, Victoria
    A 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

    Materials

    Stoneware

  • Encaustic Painted Basalt Vase, Wedgwood, circa 1770
    By Wedgwood
    Located in Melbourne, Victoria
    A fine, large vase in black basalt, decorated with an en grisaille painted illustration of Orpheus playing his lyre, with a stag sitting quietly by, listening to his playing - and perhaps singing, although his mouth is shown closed. Orpheus's talent on the lyre is one of the most celebrated aspects of his mythological character. In Greek mythology, Orpheus is renowned as a musician without equal, possessing a skillful mastery of the lyre, a stringed instrument similar to a small harp...
    Category

    Antique Late 18th Century English Neoclassical Pottery

    Materials

    Stoneware

  • Encaustic Painted Basalt Oenochoe, Wedgwood, circa 1800
    By Wedgwood
    Located in Melbourne, Victoria
    Currently on loan to The David Roche Foundation for their exhibition "Josiah Wedgwood - Master Potter to the Universe". A fabulous oenochoe (Greek wine jug) in black basalt, with en...
    Category

    Antique 1790s English Neoclassical Pottery

    Materials

    Stoneware

  • Encaustic Painted Ecuelle, Wedgwood, circa 1790
    By Wedgwood
    Located in Melbourne, Victoria
    In black basalt, decorated with encaustic painting. An écuelle is a French word that refers to a shallow dish or bowl, typically made of metal or ceramic, and used for serving food. Écuelle is also the French word for a small, shallow saucer used for serving soup. In English, an écuelle might be referred to as a soup plate or a soup saucer...
    Category

    Antique 1780s English Neoclassical Pottery

    Materials

    Stoneware

  • Shield-Shaped Vase, Wedgwood, circa 1773
    By Wedgwood
    Located in Melbourne, Victoria
    A shield-shaped vase, decorated to resemble porphyry, and highlighted with gilding. Marked for Wedgwood & Bentley.
    Category

    Antique Late 18th Century English Neoclassical Pottery

    Materials

    Stoneware

You May Also Like
  • Wedgwood Encaustic Ewer
    By Wedgwood
    Located in Gainesville, FL
    Wedgwood basalt encaustic ewer with ancient Greek inspired decoration on both sides. The shape is also inspired by a Greek wine jug, known as...
    Category

    Antique Mid-19th Century English Neoclassical Vases

    Materials

    Ceramic, Porcelain

  • Wedgwood Large and Impressive Majolica Jardiniere with Masks and Trailing Vines
    By Wedgwood
    Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
    A rare large and impressive Wedgwood majolica jardiniere decorated with masks and trailing vines dating from around 1870. The pottery stands raised on a pedestal of rounded shape dec...
    Category

    Antique 1870s English High Victorian Planters, Cachepots and Jardinières

    Materials

    Pottery

  • Wedgwood Black Basalt Flowerpot in Trellis Pattern, English Early 20th Century
    By Wedgwood
    Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
    This is a good black basalt small Flowerpot, made by Wedgwood and dating to the early 20th century, circa 1920s. The piece is well potted in a traditional flowerpot shape with an...
    Category

    Early 20th Century English Edwardian Ceramics

    Materials

    Pottery

  • Set 18 Wedgwood Creamware Dessert or Salad Dishes England, circa 1820
    By Wedgwood
    Located in Katonah, NY
    Made 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

    Materials

    Creamware

  • Wedgwood Black Basalt and Encaustic Enamel Rum Kettle
    By Wedgwood
    Located in New Orleans, LA
    Crafted by Wedgwood, this rare, round-shaped rum kettle is comprised of black basalt and features a molded bail handle and glazed interior. Referred to as “...
    Category

    Antique Early 19th Century English Classical Greek Ceramics

    Materials

    Enamel

  • Wedgwood Pearlware Fox Hunting Jug, circa 1810
    By Wedgwood
    Located in Downingtown, PA
    Wedgwood pearlware fox hunting jug, circa 1810. This ovoid jug has a cylindrical neck, a projecting lip, and a ribbed ear-shaped loop handle. Bat prin...
    Category

    Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Pitchers

    Materials

    Pearlware, Pottery

Recently Viewed

View All