Portland Vase - Ivanhoe Series - 1913
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Portland Vase - Ivanhoe Series
© Wedgwood Museum
Wedgwood’s art director Thomas Allen was responsible for the design of this very Victorian piece. Here characters from the ‘Ivanhoe’ series, inspired by the Sir Walter Scott’s novel, have been used as decoration on this iconic shape. During the late nineteenth century, when this piece was made, the Portland Vase shape was made in a variety of ceramic bodies – but rarely was it decorated in this manner.
The original cameo-glass Portland Vase, also known as the Barberini Vase is thought to date to the reign of the Emperor Augustus Caesar (27BC-14AD), and is currently in the collection of the British Museum. Wedgwood borrowed the original in June 1786 from the new owner, the third Duke of Portland in order to reproduce the shape in his new jasper body. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth century the classical Portland Vase shape was reproduced in everyday ceramic bodies such as Queen’s ware and pearlware. Here the ‘Ivanhoe’ surface pattern applied to the vase is totally ‘at odds’ with the well-known, iconic shape. This 1913 vase is divided into two decorative ‘segments’ featuring a turquoise and also a midnight background; the characters shown are from the ‘Ivanhoe’ range designed for Wedgwood by Thomas Allen. Allen’s work for Wedgwood often had a literary foundation. As well as Sir Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe Allen often drew on Shakespearean characters for inspiration
- Type of object: Ornamental ware/vase
- Mark: WEDGWOOD 3CP [Impressed]
- Year first produced: 1913
- Body: Queen's ware and cream-coloured earthenware
- Glaze: Clear glaze
- Material: Ceramic
- Decoration: Hand-painted
- Accession number: 9625
- Dimensions: 232 mm (height), 173 mm (diameter)
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Related people
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Thomas Allen
Artist
Thomas Allen - Artist
Allen was one of the greatest ceramic artists of the 19th century studying at Somerset House and South Kensington. On returning to Stoke-on-Trent he was employed firstly by the Minton factory, then he joined Wedgwood around late 1875 or early 1876. He had a considerable reputation as a figure painter, and possessed an immense amount of knowledge concerning the tile industry. Under Allen's influence the output and range of studio- and art wares grew greatly, and he was particularly renowned for his production of new tableware designs.
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Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet
Associated
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet - Associated
Scottish historical novelist and poet, popular throughout Europe during his time. Famous titles include Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, The Lady of The Lake, Waverley, The Heart of Midlothian and The Bride of Lammermoor.
Glossary
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Queen’s ware
Queen’s ware
In 1765 Wedgwood provided a tea and coffee service to Her Majesty Queen Charlotte (wife of George III) in the new earthenware body he had recently perfected. She was so pleased with the set that she not only allowed Josiah to style himself ‘Potter to Her Majesty’, she also allowed him to call his new earthenware ‘Queen’s ware’ - a name by which Wedgwood’s cream coloured earthenware is still known today.
Themes
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Wedgwood and artists
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