Date this Wedgwood Black basalt vase please.

I think I have a date for this 6 inch vase (one of two we have) but would appreciate a second opinion.

Thanks, Steve.

 

1796....


...
....

hahhh....just kidding!
u never said the 2nd opinion had to be any good !!!

 

I've posted your pix of the base (hope that's OK) to another site that has some Wedgwood experts on it. Will post any reply here.

 

Who knows, you may be right

 

Cheers kentworld.

FWIW I think the impressed mark is not the modern Serif font.

It is not marked England or Made in England so I think it dates pre 1891.

It does not have the three letter date code which suggests it is pre 1860.

Of course I am probably wrong, which is why I wanted a second opinion!!

 

Old mark, old base and old style. Yes, sometime between 1769 and 1860. Ask the museum, they're helpful.

 

And who is the woman who is holding the severed head?

 

She's channelling Tom Jones.

 

I saw it suggested it might be Judith holding the head of Holofernes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_beheading_Holofernes

 

What ??
so there's a small chance I could be right ???
That's too funny.....

I might be learning stuff here...I don't even know that I'm learning..!!!

 

@rhiwfield is it OK if I pull a slightly lightened and enlarged closeup of the beheaded?

 

Aquitaine, please do.

 

It's not the greatest, but gives us an image we can see better!! And he does NOT look happy that his head got lopped!!! Doesn't she look like she's wearing a "modernish" hat with a visor????? I could be TOTALLY mis-reading that........

 

Just taken this close up from one of the vases.

Hope this helps

 

NICE JOB!!!! So, are you saying the images are not the same on both of the vases??? And Yours is SO much better!!! Can you do that with the one I tried enlarging??

 

Just checked the other vase and the image is identical. It looks like the woman is leaning on a club!

 

I think neoclassical and Greek myth, rather than Biblical. That would fit with the date.

 

The only Greek myth I have so far found about a male severed head is the myth of Orpheus. But this image doesn't seem to be right for that somehow.

 

So what I thought I saw was a morning "optical delusion!!!" Oh Happy Days!!!

Edit, but the club I did see!!!

 

Well since you asked for an "opinion"...I know things can look a little rougher with age (you should see me) but this seems to lack Wedgewood quality as we commonly know it. I see it is marked and maybe old time techniques were not as good. Just sayin.....