Medallion with Sacrifice c. 1780

The Wedgwood Manufactory created this small medallion, with the scene of a sacrifice, using jasperware. The scene depicted is drawn from classical antiquity, a common source of inspiration during the Neoclassical period. Yet, what does it mean to revive imagery of sacrifice, of power dynamics, in a time of social upheaval? Consider how power operates in this scene. A seated figure observes as others carry out a ritual. Sacrifice can be interpreted in many ways: as devotion, as loss, as a brutal exercise of control. How might lived experiences shape one's view of this scene? The figures are generalized, their individual identities subsumed within the ritual. This medallion invites us to reflect on the roles we play in society, and the sacrifices demanded of us.