Inkstand 1810 - 1820

This terracotta inkstand was produced by the Wedgwood manufactory, and presents us with a fascinating study in miniature architecture adorned with symbolic motifs. The festoons of flowers and the theatrical masks echo back to ancient Roman precedents. The masks recall the performances of antiquity, where actors concealed their identities behind symbolic representations of human experience. These classical motifs transcend their original contexts and find new life here, adopted into the decorative arts. The ‘door’ motif also alludes to themes of entrance and transformation. We see the evolution of symbolic forms constantly adapting to new cultural needs, reflecting our subconscious longings and the persistence of cultural memory. The inkstand as a whole becomes a stage for symbolic interaction.