{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O77422"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O77422/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT4077/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT4077/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AT4077","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JU0609","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O77422/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O77422","accessionNumber":"1506-1855","objectType":"Vase","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>The amphora of ancient Greece was an ovoid jar with two loop handles, which was used for storing oil, wine or other liquids. Wedgwood's amphora is a purely decorative imitation of a piece from classical antiquity, and was probably intended for display in a private library or other domestic interior. It was made at a time when vases were enormously popular. Wedgwood exploited and promoted this fashion, boasting of his intention of becoming 'Vase Maker General to the Universe' in 1769.<br><br><b>Materials & Making</b><br>The amphora is made of Black Basalt, one of several types of pottery Wedgwood developed or perfected in order to respond to shifts in taste. The pottery body and the colour scheme were inspired by ancient Greek pottery. Wedgwood called the type of painting on this piece 'encaustic'. The name originally indicated an ancient Greek and Roman technique of painting in which pigments are worked in hot wax. Wedgwood's encaustic decoration was hand-painted in a mixture of enamel pigments and slip (a mixture of clay and water), and then fired onto the body. Unlike Jasper, his greatest invention, Wedgwood patented his encaustic process. However, the patent gave him little protection and the technique was immediately taken up by other potters.","physicalDescription":"","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Josiah Wedgwood and Sons","id":"A1450"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Black Basalt, with 'encaustic' decoration","categories":[{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"},{"text":"Vases","id":"THES48879"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"CER","id":"THES48594"},"images":["2006AT4077","2017JU0609"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"118E (VA)","id":"THES49228"},"free":"","case":"CA3","shelf":"","box":"16"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Vase","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Etruria","id":"x33200"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1785","earliest":"1780-01-01","latest":"1789-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"30.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Made at Josiah Wedgwood's factory, Etruria, Staffordshire","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Vase with encaustic decoration","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nThe decoration of this 'amphora' (a two-handled vase) was copied from a Greek vase in Sir William Hamilton's collection, which was the most important design source for Wedgwood's encaustic vases. Wedgwood was given a copy of Hamilton's catalogue of his vases in 1769.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}},{"text":"Vase\nmade at the factory of Josiah Wedgwood, Etruria, Staffordshire, about 1785\nMark: 'WEDGWOOD', impressed\nBlack Basalt with encaustic decoration\n\n1506-1855","date":{"text":"23/05/2008","earliest":"2008-05-23","latest":"2008-05-23"}}],"partNumbers":["1506-1855"],"accessionNumberNum":"1506","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1855,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LP7282","2019LR6546","2019LV1746"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-27","availableToBook":false}}