vase

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Object Type
Museum number: 1786,0527.1
Title: Object: The Pegasus Vase
Description: Vase made of pale blue jasper ware with applied white reliefs; oviform body flattened on the shoulders; domed cover with figure of Pegasus on top resting on a pale blue cloud; on one side the crowning of a poet, and on the other an altar, palm tree, Athene in temple, and vases; olive wreath on neck of vase; honeysuckle and other ornaments on lower part; handles, in the form of two serpents disputing an egg, springing from Gorgon masks; square plinth with meander on the sides. Marked.
Producer name: Designed by: John Flaxman; Modelled by: William Hackwood (fl.1770;frieze); Factory of: Wedgwood (under Wedgwood, Josiah I)
Production date: 1786 (circa)
Production place: Original from: British Museum; Factory in: Etruria (England)
Materials
Ware
Technique: relief; applied
Dimensions: Diameter: 10.80 inches (with handles); Height: 18 inches
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: 1989, Reilly, R. Wedgwood, 644-6, 680. 1984, Dawson, A. 'Masterpieces of Wedgwood in the British Museum', 102-111. 1979, London, RA, Bindman, David (ed.), 'John Flaxman, R.A', p. 56-7. 1979, Copenhagen, 'Flaxman: Mytologi og industri', 7. 1979, Munich, 'John Flaxman: Mythologie und Industrie', 76. 1965, Kelly, A. ' Decorative Wedgwood, in Architecture and Furniture, Country Life, 62-4. 1968, Scheidemantel, V. J. 'The "Apotheosis of Homer": a Wedgwood and Bentley plaque. In Antje Kosegarten and Peter Tigler (eds) Festschrift Ulrich Middledorf, 517-22 and 224-5.; Dawson 1984 The scene on this vase represents the 'Apotheosis of Homer', or the crowning of a kitharist, copied from Hamilton's 'Antiquities'.; See G&R registration no. 1772,0320.26 for the calyx-krater which was used as inspiration for the design on this vase.
Bibliographic references: Hobson 1903 / Catalogue of the collection of English Pottery in the Department of British and Medieval Antiquites and Ethnography of the British Museum (I712); Hannover & Rackham 1925 / Pottery and Porcelain - A Handbook for Collectors 1. Europe and the Near East: Earthenware and Stoneware (fig.667 on p.532 & p.534); Dawson 1984 / Masterpieces of Wedgwood in the British Museum (pp. 102-111; figs. 77-81; pl. 10)
Location: On display (G47/dc2)
Exhibition history: Exhibited: 1995 7 Jun-17 Sep, London, V&A, The Genius of Mr. Wedgwood 1979 20 Apr- 3 June, Hamburg, Kunsthalle, 'John Flaxman: Mythologie und Industrie', no. 32b 1979 28 June-30 Sep, Copenhagen Thorwaldsen Museum, 'Flaxman', no. 32b 1979 26 Oct-9 Dec, London, Royal Academy, 'Flaxman', no. 32b 1978, 21 March-24 Sep, London, Science Museum, 'Josiah Wedgwood: the Arts and Sciences United', no.
Subjects: religious object; mythical figure/creature; myth/legend; classical deity; temple; reptile; serpent
Associated names: Representation of: Pegasus; Representation of: Athena/Minerva; Representation of: Gorgon/s; Representation of: Homer (?)
Acquisition name
Acquisition date: 1786
Acquisition notes: The vase was not registered when acquired by the Museum, so the reg.no is taken from the Trustees' minutes.
Department: Britain, Europe and Prehistory
Registration number: 1786,0527.1
Conservation: Treatment: 01 Jun 1995; Treatment: 30 Jul 1994

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