Ewer Sacred to Neptune: MAR.C.1A-1912

Titles

Ewer Sacred to Neptune

Maker(s)

Factory: Wedgwood
Designer: Flaxman, John, Sr.

Entities

• Ewer
• Black basalt
• ewer for water

Categories

• Stoneware

Description

Black basalt, moulded. Of antique ewer form standing on square plinth. The ewer for water (A) has with a triton holding the neck, a dolphin's head on the shoulder at the front, and on each side, a swag of aquatic leaves.The plinth is decorated with panels of interlacing branches. The plinth, foot and vase is held together by a rod, disk, and nut.

Notes

History note: Unknown before testator, Charles Brinsley Marlay (1831-1912)

Legal notes

C.B. Marlay Bequest

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1912) by Marlay, Charles Brinsley

Dating

18th Century, Late
George III
Circa 1780 CE - 1860 CE

Note

The design for this ewer and its pair probably originated in a pair of plaster vases, one decorated with a triton and one with a satyr, symbolizing water and wine, exhibited at the Académie de Saint-Luc in Paris in 1774 by Sigisbert-François Michel (1728-1811), nephew of Claude Michel, known as Clodion (1738-1814). John Flaxman Senior (1726-95) provided designs and plaster models for the Wedgwood vases, and invoiced Josiah Wedgwood on 25 March, 1775 (CHECK is this 3 January 1775 the date given in VAM cat 1995) for 'A pair of Vases, one with a satyr & the other with a Triton Handle £3.3s.' (Wedgwood Archives, University of Keele, L1-204). The plasters are in the Wedgwood Archives. Flaxman's drawing for the ewer 'Sacred to Neptune' (Wedgwood Archives, no. 4548)

The form is no. 236 in the Wedgwood Shape Book (54.30019) where they were described as 'Marine & Satyr Handles & Ewer Sacred/to Neptune & Bacch-us'. They are also in the Shape Book water-marked 1794 rebound in 1916. They sold at 42/- ( 2 guineas) in black and 105/- (5 guineas) in jasper. They were still in production in 1878, see The Wedgwood Illustrated Catalogue of Ornamental Shapes 1878.

School or Style

Neoclassical