Button with Choice of Hercules c. late 18th century

Curator: Here we have a rather charming late 18th-century piece: a button crafted by the Wedgwood Manufactory, depicting the Choice of Hercules. Editor: Intriguing! At first glance, the crispness of the white figures against the dark blue ground creates a miniature tableau effect—like a cameo come to life. Curator: Exactly! The neoclassical style is quite evident in the relief carving, showcasing Hercules' pivotal moment of choosing between virtue and pleasure. Wedgwood became famous for popularizing such cameos through their industrial techniques. Editor: It’s striking how Wedgwood brought these classical themes into everyday life through mass production. One begins to think about accessibility in art and how that changed society. What was the significance of wearing this? Curator: For the wearer, I suppose it represented erudition. Wedgwood buttons like these signified a familiarity with classical themes, and advertised a kind of moral aspiration. Editor: There’s an irony there though, isn't there? Industrial manufacture celebrating 'virtue.' I wonder about the social conditions that underpinned that production… about the laborers behind the artistry and consumption of this button. It makes you wonder what choice *they* had! Curator: A pertinent point, indeed. Still, when you zoom in, the detail in the rendering of the figures is amazing for such a small item. It has that refined grace reminiscent of Greek sculpture. Editor: Definitely, and it makes you think about Neoclassical orderliness, rational thought, and even idealism, translated into this almost talismanic piece of ceramic. Even though tiny, the composition really creates an open, noble narrative. Curator: Indeed, a tangible expression of intellectual values that could be owned and worn as a subtle statement. Editor: In short, more than a utilitarian garment fastener, it’s a microcosm of broader social currents. Curator: Precisely, an intriguing little piece blending utility, mass production, and symbolic value.