Pair of Vases c. 1770

These vases were made by the Wedgwood Manufactory out of Jasperware. Wedgwood pottery was very fashionable in late eighteenth-century England, and it speaks to the social conditions that shaped its production. Josiah Wedgwood was deeply interested in science and technology. He believed that the methods of industrial production could be used to make high-end luxury goods more affordable. The swirling colors in these vases imitate natural stones like agate or marble. Neoclassical forms were all the rage, but Wedgwood democratized them by creating affordable luxury goods for the middle classes. Wedgwood pottery was thus a product of the Industrial Revolution, reflecting the rising power of British manufacturing and the growth of consumer culture. To understand the cultural context, one might research Wedgwood's factory production methods, the influence of neoclassical design, and the growth of the consumer marketplace in England. This gives us insight into the complex relationship between art, industry, and society.