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Enormous Portrait Medallion of Dr Priestly, Bert Bentley, Wedgwood, circa 1925

About the Item

Fabulously large and fine example of the work of the well-known decorator Bert Bentley. Very few portrait medallions of this size were made, in all the time that Wedgwood has been making portrait medallions. Priestly's advocacy for free speech and freedom of religion would have made him a hero to Josiah Wedgwood. Joseph Priestley was an 18th-century English scientist, philosopher, and theologian. He is best known for his discovery of oxygen, which he called "dephlogisticated air." This discovery was a major contribution to the field of chemistry and paved the way for the modern understanding of the role of oxygen in respiration and combustion. Priestley was born in 1733 in Leeds, England, and was educated at Daventry Academy. He went on to become a minister in the Presbyterian Church, but he also had a keen interest in science and natural philosophy. He conducted numerous experiments in electricity, optics, and pneumatics, and he wrote many books on these subjects, as well as on politics, religion, and education. In addition to his discovery of oxygen, Priestley made significant contributions to our understanding of photosynthesis, discovering that plants release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide. He also discovered several other gases, including carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, and sulfur dioxide. Priestley was a strong advocate of free speech and freedom of religion, and his political views made him a target of conservative forces in England. He was forced to flee to the United States in 1794, where he spent the rest of his life. He died in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, in 1804. Priestley's legacy extends beyond his scientific discoveries, as he was a major figure of the Enlightenment and a key advocate for reason and toleration in an era of political and religious upheaval.

Creator:

Wedgwood (Manufacturer)

Dimensions:

Height: 16 in (40.64 cm)Width: 13.25 in (33.66 cm)Depth: 3 in (7.62 cm)

Style:

Neoclassical Revival (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Stoneware,Molded

Place of Origin:

England

Period:

Early 20th Century

Date of Manufacture:

circa 1925

Condition:

Seller Location:

Melbourne, AU

Reference Number:

Seller: 40471stDibs: LU3151332751632

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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.