{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O71215"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O71215/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AW2451/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AW2451/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AW2451","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AM8723","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O71215/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O71215","accessionNumber":"454-1890","objectType":"Plaque","titles":[{"title":"Josiah Wedgwood","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>Portrait medallions had long been made in metal, and were popular in wax and ivory in mid-18th century England.  Wedgwood, however, was the first person to manufacture them in stoneware on a commercial scale.<br><br><b>Use</b><br>This medallion of Wedgwood himself was made as the pair to one of his partner Thomas Bentley (museum no. 453-1890). They were made for personal reasons and were probably not intended to be reproduced commercially. The earliest of these medallions were probably given to close friends of the two partners. Later, after the firm had become famous, others were made using the original moulds. They were probably hung on walls in wood or brass frames or stored in cabinets.<br><br><b>People</b><br>Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795) was one of the most remarkable entrepreneurs and innovators of the 18th century. The foundation of his commercial empire, and of his great reputation as a potter and businessman, was the several ceramic materials and decorative treatments he developed or perfected. The most important of these were Black Basalt, Jasper and 'Queen's Ware.' Prompted by Thomas Bentley, he was swift to exploit the new Neo-classical style, introducing new ceramic materials and products in order to satisfy this shift in taste. His factory at Etruria became one of the industrial marvels of the day.","physicalDescription":"Portrait medallion of Josiah Wedgwood, white and black stoneware.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Smith, Joachim","id":"A8867"},"association":{"text":"modeller","id":"AAT25417"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Josiah Wedgwood and Sons","id":"A1450"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Stoneware","id":"x30197"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Stoneware","categories":[{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"},{"text":"Stoneware","id":"THES48890"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"CER","id":"THES48594"},"images":["2006AW2451","2006AM8723"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"118E","id":"THES49228"},"free":"","case":"CA3","shelf":"~","box":"29"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Plaque","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Staffordshire","id":"x29181"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"19th century","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"453-1890","id":"O71219"},"association":""}],"creditLine":"The Jodrell Collection","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"12.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Wedgwood'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Made at Josiah Wedgwood's factory, Etruria, Staffordshire; modelled by Joachim Smith (born about 1737, died in 1814).\r\nThe Collection was the bequest of Mrs. Amelia Vertue Jodrell, who  asked in her will for the credit line to read 'The Jodrell Collection'.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Portrait medallion of Josiah Wedgwood, white and black stoneware. English, made by Wedgwood, 19th century.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Hildyard, Robin. European Ceramics. London: V&A Publications, 1999.","id":"AUTH406296"},"details":"","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nWedgwood manufactured a number of portraits for private and personal reasons rather than as commercial productions. Joachim Smith, the modeller, was an accomplished artist, but Wedgwood dismissed him because of his contacts with the rival porcelain factory at Derby.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["454-1890"],"accessionNumberNum":"454","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1890,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LR2971","2019LP9079","2019LV4908"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-07-15","recordCreationDate":"2002-12-02","availableToBook":false}}