Tray: C.17-1911

Maker(s)

Factory: Josiah Wedgwood & Sons

Entities

• Tray

Categories

• Stoneware

Description

Jasper, white with pale blue dip on the upper surface, and white reliefs. Rectangular with cut corners, shallow curved sides and outward sloping edge. Decorated in the centre with a motif comprising paired narrow serrated leaves flanking anthemion facing upwards and another pair facing downwards. On the left is a figures of Urania, Muse of Astronomy, and on the right a figure of Melpomene, the Tragic Muse. Round the edge there is a border of paired laurel leaves and berries.

Notes

History note: From the donor's cousin's collection, the late Francis Bedford, Esq.

Legal notes

Given by Mrs James Bedford

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1911-02-10) by Bedford, James, Mrs

Dating

19th Century, second half
Victoria I
Circa 1850 - 1900

Note

Another set of Muses was ordered from Flaxman senior and Terpsichore, Melpomene, Thalia and Euterpe were invoiced on 3.1.1775. In 1777 the remaining Muses were ordered, but Wedgwood later asked Bentley to cancel the order if possible. Nevertheless they are usually attributed to Flaxman Senior or Junior.

Urania the Muse of Astronomy is represented with a globe and a staff for indicating the course of the stars. The figure was was part of a set of Muses possibly modelled by Giuseppe Angelini (1742-1811), who was paid for a set of nine Muses in 1789.

School or Style

Neoclassical