Rare Antique Georgian Wedgwood Jasperware Brooch

A most unusual and personal find, this gracious antique Georgian era Wedgewood Stoneware brooch is in the Neoclassical Revival taste and makes a really impressive statement showing an appreciation of antiquities and culture. The brooch dates to the 1790's and would have had great cache to the owner 250 years ago as a novelty to entertain and impress the well-to-do who could afford such trinkets.

Fabricated in the famed Wedgwood potteries founded in Stoke on Trent by Josiah Wedgwood in 1759, it shows imagery of a scene modelled bas-relief in the famed 'Wedgwood' blue and white Jasperware and mounted in mellow and pure Silver, framed by sparkling hand cut Paste 'gems.'

The plaque shows two figures who are seen weeping at the grave or tombside of a shrouded figure and after some research we have found that the scene captures that of a 'Soldier Bringing the News of the Death of Patroclus.'

Patroclus was a Greek hero in the Trojan war, best known as the closest companion of Achilles whose death at the hands of Hector is a pivotal event in Homer's Iliad, driving Achilles to return to battle.

This piece is similar to a piece kept at the Birmingham Museum of Art. and the design is listed in Wedgwood's Catalogue. 

Materials: Jasperware. The applied design was created separately in a process called 'sprigging' wherein the intricate white design was carefully pressed into a plaster mould and then applied to the background after the brooch base was made. Both were then fired together.  

This brooch boasts twenty-five beautifully handcut and foiled Paste 'gems' in a glittering frame surrounding the poignant scene. We belive it was likely once a button or stud (maybe one of a set of such), and it was later made into a brooch with a rose gold coloured 'c' clasp fastening to the back.  

Metal: fine Silver, purer than the modern 925 standard

Size: measures an inch and a half across