Rare Wedgwood & Bentley Pearlware Vase with Gilt Handles

• Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
• Basalt - Basalt is a hard, dense volcanic rock formed from the rapid cooling of basaltic lava, and makes up most of the earth's oceanic crust.
  
  However it is also the name given by Josiah Wedgwood in 1768 to a fine black unglazed porcelain which he called Wedgwood Black Basalt.
  
  Using this fine-grained stoneware he was able to produce copies of the newly excavated Etruscan pottery from Italy, with a lustrous and smooth, surface, and this new innovation proved to be a huge commercial success.
• Incised - A record of a name, date or inscription, or a decoration scratched into a surface, usually of a glass or ceramic item with a blunt instrument to make a coarse indentation. Compare with engraving where the surface is cut with a sharp instrument such as a metal needle or rotating tool to achieve a fine indentation.
• Pearlware - Pearlware is a type of earthenware pottery that was developed in the late 18th century in England, made from a mixture of clay, flint, and other materials, and is distinguished by its smooth, creamy white glaze. The glaze has a pearlescent quality, which is how the pottery got its name.
  
  Pearlware was developed as a more affordable alternative to porcelain, which was much more expensive and difficult to produce. It quickly became popular throughout England and Europe, and was exported to other parts of the world as well. It was particularly popular for making tableware, such as plates, bowls, and teapots, as well as decorative objects like figurines and vases.
  
  One of the most distinctive features of pearlware is its blue decoration. Many pieces of pearlware were decorated with blue patterns or designs, often featuring pastoral scenes, floral motifs, or geometric patterns. The blue decoration was typically applied over the white glaze, which created a striking contrast and made the designs stand out.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• Wedgwood (England), item types
  • black basalt ware 204
  • vases and ewers 251