Anna Burnside
Head of Sale
Lot 119
Samuel Alcock's Wedgwood copy of the Portland vase, 19th century
19 November 2025, 10:30 GMT
London, Knightsbridge£1,000 - £1,500
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Fergus Gambon
Director
Jim Peake
Head of Department
Samuel Alcock's Wedgwood copy of the Portland vase, 19th century
In solid blue jasper, following the usual model, applied in white relief with the Greek myth of Peleus and Thetis, the figures unclothed with minimal flowing drapery, the underside with a portrait of Paris wearing the Phrygian cap, 26.5cm high, impressed WEDGWOOD
Footnotes
Provenance
Samuel Alcock of the Hill Pottery, Burslem, and thence by family descent
This vase was most likely a gift to Samuel Alcock from the Wedgwood family. John Wedgwood was a guest at a ball and banquet held on 10 June 1840 to celebrate the opening of the new building at the Hill Pottery. In 1842, he raised a subscription to provide sumptuous gifts to Samuel as a thank you for his role as Chief Constable in putting down the Chartist riots that took place that year, see Geoffrey and Alma Barnes, 'The Samuel Alcock Porcelains, c.1822-1869', in Geoffrey Godden, Staffordshire Porcelain (1983), p.310. A fine silver centrepiece, the 'Three Graces Comport', that formed part of this gift will be offered in at Bonhams in the Fine Decorative Arts sale on 3 December 2025. Presumably in homage to Wedgwood, Alcock produced a relief-moulded jug based on the Portland vase, see the example in the Victoria and Albert Museum (inv. no.C.338.2009).