{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1805597"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1805597/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2026PN3383/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2026PN3383/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2026PN3383","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1805597/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1805597","accessionNumber":"WE.4046-2014","objectType":"Copper plate","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Wedgwood's most celebrated work was his reproduction of the Barberini or Portland Vase. The blue and white cameo glass original was brought to England by Sir William Hamiliton and subsequently acquired by the Dowager Duchess of Portland. It was made of dark blue glass overlaid with white, which was carved into a low-relief called cameo glass. It was considered the most significant art work from antiquity, and in 1786 Josiah Wedgwood (1730-95) embarked on a project to create a perfect copy. After nearly four years of experimentation, Josiah's first edition copy of the vase was put on show to a chosen audience at Wedgwood's London showroom in Greek Street. Admission was by ticket only, and this copper printing plate is the design used on the tickets.\nIn 1790 the first editions of the vase were launched to a select group of subscribers. Wedgwood's copy of the famous Portland Vase is seen as the culmination of his career as ceramics manufacturer. His ability to copy a piece widely regarded as a pinnacle of Roman craft asserted the technical and artistic superiority of his ceramics factory at Etruria.","physicalDescription":"Copper plate with engraved design for admission ticket to see the Portland vase and mirrored text 'Admission to see Mr. Wedgwood's copy of the Portland Vase. Greek Street Soho between 12 o'clock and 5'","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Pontifex & Co","id":"AUTH408764"},"association":{"text":"manufacturers","id":"AAT25230"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"copper","id":"AAT11020"}],"techniques":[{"text":"engraving","id":"AAT53225"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Copper, engraving","categories":[{"text":"V&A Wedgwood Collection","id":"THES276060"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"WED","id":"THES270009"},"images":["2026PN3383"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"WDG1","id":"THES264736"},"free":"","case":"CA27","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"printing plates","id":"AAT22755"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1790","earliest":"1790-01-01","latest":"1790-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"V&A Wedgwood Collection. Presented by Art Fund with major support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, private donations and a public appeal.","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"97","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"64","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"1","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Found on Works [at Etruria factory]. ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Copper printing plate for admission ticket to see the Portland Vase, copper engraved, Jones and Pontifex, London, 1790","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"WDG1/CA27","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"27.13 Admission ticket, originally issued in April 1790, to view the jasper copy of the Portland Vase at Wedgwood's Greek Street Showrooms; with its copper printing plate. Plate: 1790; ticket: modern facsimile.\r\nGallery text written 2008. ","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["WE.4046-2014"],"accessionNumberNum":"4046","accessionNumberPrefix":"WE","accessionYear":2014,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Wedgwood Museum Accession Number","id":"THES269972"},"number":"1354"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-09-04","recordCreationDate":"2025-06-18","availableToBook":false}}