Pair of Wedgwood Sage Green Jasperware Master Salt Cellars, c.1930

Details

Description

Style Period: Art Deco, circa 1930
Dimensions: 4" diameter, approximately 1" deep
Condition: In very good condition!
Description
An exquisite … Read more Style Period: Art Deco, circa 1930
Dimensions: 4" diameter, approximately 1" deep
Condition: In very good condition!
Description
An exquisite pair of Wedgwood jasperware master salt cellars in the sought-after sage green colorway, dating to circa 1930. These charming vessels showcase the neoclassical elegance that has made Wedgwood a household name for over two and a half centuries.
Each salt cellar features the distinctive matte finish and crisp white relief cartouches characteristic of Wedgwood's jasperware technique. The applied classical scenes depict figures from Greek and Roman mythology, rendered in the refined neoclassical style that defined Wedgwood's aesthetic vocabulary. These mythological vignettes—possibly depicting scenes of classical deities, muses, or allegorical figures—are executed with remarkable detail and crispness, standing in elegant contrast against the soft sage green ground.
The neoclassical design philosophy, inspired by the archaeological discoveries at Pompeii and Herculaneum in the 18th century, found its perfect expression in Wedgwood's jasperware. These salt cellars continue that grand tradition, with their white relief decoration evoking ancient cameos and classical friezes, bringing the grandeur of antiquity to the dining table.
Measuring 4 inches in diameter with a depth of nearly 1 inch, these master salt cellars are perfectly proportioned for elegant table service. Their generous size made them ideal for formal dining, positioned within easy reach for guests to serve themselves.
About Wedgwood
Founded in 1759 by Josiah Wedgwood in Staffordshire, England, Wedgwood revolutionized the pottery industry and became one of the most celebrated ceramics manufacturers in the world. Josiah Wedgwood was not merely a potter but an innovator, entrepreneur, and artist who elevated pottery to an art form worthy of royal patronage.
The company's crowning achievement came in 1775 with the perfection of jasperware—an unglazed vitreous stoneware that could be stained with metallic oxides to produce various colors. The iconic pale blue remains most famous, but Wedgwood produced jasperware in numerous hues including sage green, lilac, black, yellow, and pink.
Wedgwood's neoclassical designs, often featuring white relief decoration of classical figures, mythological scenes, medallions, and ornamental motifs against colored grounds, captured the imagination of 18th-century society and remain highly collectible today. The company collaborated with renowned artists and modelers, including John Flaxman, who created many of the classical and mythological designs that became synonymous with the Wedgwood name.
The company received royal appointment and counted among its admirers Catherine the Great of Russia and Queen Charlotte of England. By the 1930s, when these salt cellars were produced, Wedgwood had become an international institution, continuing to produce pieces using the traditional jasperware techniques perfected over 150 years earlier while adapting to contemporary tastes of the Art Deco era.
These master salt cellars represent an elegant intersection of Georgian tradition and Art Deco sophistication—functional tableware objects that double as decorative works of art, perfect for the discerning collector or for elevating any dining experience with a touch of classical mythology. See less