Cameo with Hercules and Bull c. late 18th century

This cameo of Hercules and a bull was manufactured by the Wedgwood factory, using its signature Jasperware technique. This involved firing unglazed porcelain with metal oxides to create distinctive colors, like the pale blue you see here. The white figure is then applied in relief. The beauty of Jasperware lies in its precise modeling and sharp detail, which Wedgwood achieved through industrialization. Josiah Wedgwood pioneered division of labor, where each worker specialized in a single step of the manufacturing process. This boosted production and made luxury items accessible to the middle classes. But Wedgwood also tapped into deeper social currents. Neoclassical designs like this cameo appealed to a desire for refinement, and the celebration of physical strength as embodied by Hercules spoke to aspirations of power during the Industrial Revolution. Ultimately, the value of this cameo isn't just in its aesthetic appeal, but in the story it tells about industry, labor, and the democratization of design.