Apollo and the Nine Muses

Object NamePlaque

Manufacturer Wedgwood (English (Stoke-on-Trent, England), founded 1759)

DatePossibly early 19th century

OriginGreat Britain

MediumJasperware

Dimensions2 1/2 × 8 1/2 in. (6.4 × 21.6 cm)

ClassificationsDecorative Arts, Ceramics

Credit LineGift of Ann and Henry Brunnier. In the Ann and Henry Brunnier Collection, Brunnier Art Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

Object number2.8.134

Status

Not on view

Collections

Decorative Arts

CultureEnglish

Label TextJosiah Wedgwood lived and worked in the 18th century in Staffordshire, England, the pottery making center of the country. He grew up immersed in pottery as his family worked in the industry and survived smallpox, which left him with a weak leg (later it had to be amputated) and led him to focus more on experimentation in his pottery. Along with his skills as a potter and designer, he was a scientist - performing thousands of experiments to develop new ceramic bodies, an astute business man, and a humanitarian. He is best known for jasperware, a stoneware body that he created and that was one of the most important technical developments in modern ceramics. Many people would easily recognize jasperware, even if they don’t know what it is called, as the blue and white decorated ceramics that has become the hallmark of Wedgwood since its creation in the 1770s. The Plaque is jasperware, but using black with white decoration. Depicted are Apollo and the Nine Muses, a decidedly classical subject. In the second half of the 18th century, neo-classicism was the height of taste and style in England and Europe. Neo-classicism included various motifs and imagery either taken directly from or inspired by antiquity. In this plaque not only do you find the image of Apollo and the Nine Muses, taken from classical mythology, but floral swags and hanging trophies of helmets, jugs, baskets, and more – modeled on antiquity, but adapted for contemporary tastes. Wedgwood recognized early on the power of following the tastes of the wealthy to achieve financial success. His use of neo-classical design was employed to create objects that would perfectly fit into the homes of the wealthy at this time and suit their tastes, most especially the interiors being designed by Robert Adam. Wedgwood developed a lengthy list of objects using neo-classical design such as urns, vases of all sizes, tea sets, and plaques like the one in University Museums’ collection, which could be inset into fireplace surrounds and furniture.

Locations