Portland vase 1835 - 1865

The Portland Vase was produced by Josiah Wedgwood and Sons starting in 1759, though without a specific date of completion. Wedgwood's pieces speak to the cultural phenomenon of the Grand Tour, when wealthy Europeans, especially the British, traveled around Europe and collected artifacts. The vase embodies the 18th-century obsession with antiquity, replicating a Roman original from the first century. But it also tells a story of class and labor. Wedgwood, a brilliant businessman, built a factory system where he could experiment with industrial production, while still giving the impression of bespoke craftsmanship. We might consider the experience of the artisans who meticulously crafted these vases. These craftsmen were integral to Wedgwood's success, yet they remained largely anonymous, their individual contributions subsumed under the Wedgwood brand. This object invites us to consider the relationship between labor, artistry, and the construction of cultural value.