Josiah Wedgwood
John Flaxman, the sculptor (1755-1826) was the first to bring Josiah Wedgwood’s attention to the vase in a letter dated 5th February 1784:
I wish you may soon come to town to see William Hamilton’s vase, it is the finest production of Art that has been brought to England and seems to be the very apex of perfection to which you are endeavoring to bring your bisque & jasper.
At this time Josiah Wedgwood, was of the opinion that the process of creating his own version of the Barberini vase meant surpassing the arts of the ancient world. He believed that by copying a piece widely regarded as a pinnacle of Roman craft, he could show the technical and artistic superiority of his own ceramics factory.
Josiah’s single-mindedness prompted him to write to the Duke, requesting to borrow the vase so that he could copy it in jasper – a unique type of stoneware clay first developed by Josiah in the 1770s.
Upon receipt of the vase, three days later, Josiah wrote to Sir William Hamilton stating:
You will be pleased, I am sure, to hear what a treasure is just now put into my hands, I mean the exquisite Barberini vase with which you enriched this island, and which, now … we may call … the Portland vase…
Letter dated June 1786
In 1790, following almost five years of experiments, trials and tests, the first editions of the Wedgwood vase were ready to be launched to a select group of subscribers.
Jasper ware copy of the Portland Vase. Original dated 1790.