Modeled on the Greek red-figure example from the Hamilton Collection in the British Museum, the volute handles centering Classical 'Gorgon' masks and terminating in swans' heads, the neck decorated with floral and foliate tendrils centering a bust, between bands of faux gardoons, vine, ovolo, Vitruvian scroll and anthemion, the front of the body decorated with griffins attacking a chariot driven by a warrior, after a print by Pierre-François Hugues d’Hancarville, a key-fret band below, all raised on a circular socle base
25¹⁄₄ in. (64.1 cm.) high

Conditions of Sale
FAQs
This lot is offered by Christie's Inc

Brought to you by

Lot Essay

The design for this vase derives from the legendary illustrated publication of the collection of Sir William Hamilton (1730–1803), Collection Of Etruscan, Greek, And Roman Antiquities From The Cabinet Of The Honble Wm Hamilton His Britannick Maiesty's Envoy Extraordinary At The Court Of Naples, edited by Pierre-François Hugues (self-styled Baron d'Hancarville, 1719–1805) and first published in 1766. Josiah Wedgwood was just one of the many in Europe to be inspired by this extensive collection of Classical antiquities and he drew inspiration from its repertoire. The design for the volutes and the neck is based on a vase typically identified by the decoration upon the body: 'Outline and profile of youth in a temple' (see the collection at the Royal Academy, Object No. 17/4732). The source for the chariot scene is also in the abovementioned Hamilton Collection tome (op. cit., n.p.) and has the same small heart above the scene (also see the Wellcome Collection, Reference No. 2498911i). The publication was widely distributed and had an indelible impact on Neoclassical design and taste across Europe.

Compare the example in the Victoria & Albert Museum formerly in the Apsley Pellatt collection, D. Edwards, Black Basalt, Wedgwood and Contemporary Manufacturers, Suffolk, 1994, p. 51., fig. 23 (accession no. 2419-1901).