Medallion with Aristippus c. late 18th century

This Wedgwood cameo, from the late 18th century, depicts Aristippus, a Greek philosopher known for his hedonistic views. The white cameo is set in a blue jasperware oval and framed with a silver border. The piece is a fine example of Wedgwood's celebrated jasperware, a stoneware with a smooth, unglazed finish, often decorated with white cameos or bas-reliefs. The Wedgwood Manufactory, founded by Josiah Wedgwood, became renowned for its innovative use of materials and its revival of classical motifs in 18th-century England.