A Wedgwood cobalt blue jasper dip Spill Vase, Etruria, Staffordshire, 1868
This cylindrical blue jasper dip spill vase was made at the factory of Josiah Wedgwood, Etruria, Staffordshire, during the second half of the 19th century. It is decorated with alternating applied white relief stiff leaves and flowers in a design known as Harebell and Acanthus. Beneath the rim, a classical band of scrolling flowers, including honeysuckle, supports five rams’ heads from which are suspended festoons of flowers. The interior is glazed.
In a bid to save money on the use of costly colouring materials required for solid jasper, Josiah Wedgwood introduced the dipped process in around 1777. First of all, the object is created in a white jasper clay body. This is then dipped in a slip containing liquid clay and metallic oxide pigments (such as cobalt for blue), so that the exterior is covered in a thin veneer of colour, whilst the interior and base remain white. The white relief decoration is then skilfully applied to the coloured ground.
Impressed WEDGWOOD, the numeral 6, the date letter W (for 1868), and a workman’s mark.
Dimensions: Height 14.5 cm.
Condition: Excellent – no damage or restoration. A finger print remains on the freshly-glazed interior from when the vase was handled during the manufacturing process.
The Genius of Wedgwood, Hilary Young (V&A Publications, 1995).
Wedgwood, Wolf Mankowitz (Spring Books, 1966).
Price: £85.