Permanent Collection

  • 1886
  • England
  • Height: 54 in.
  • Large vase of ovoid form with mottled red glaze simulating stone supported by a triangular base with three naturalistically modeled white swans in defensive stance. 
  • Mark:  Wedgwood PRO impressed on underside.
  • Artist: Albert-Ernest Carrier Belleuse
Floor vase large:  3 parts. Base with three swans, oxblood colored vase, lid with swan. Impressed: WEDGWOOD on underside of triangular base. Ceramic vase sits on same oxblood and mustard colored tiered ceramic base. This section is impressed with the WEDGWOOD hallmark. Oxblood colored vase area has three figural swans that connect it to base and three mustard colored handles. The vase is secured to the swan base with a large bolt. Disc shaped oxblood lid with figural 15in swan on top. The entire vase is mounted on a black wooden triangular base. 

Attributed to sculptor Albert-Ernest Carrier Belleuse (French, 1824-1887). Only eight examples are known to survive. Two are in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; one at the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Australia; one at the Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; this example is from of the Henry Plant Museum’s collection; and three are in private collections. This 54-inch monumental vase was the largest piece of majolica produced by the Wedgwood Factory. Henry and Margaret Plant purchased this vase for the Tampa Bay Hotel.  Majolica was in production from 1860 to 1910, a form of art pottery, decorated with colored glazes, inspired by Italian maiolica. Impressed WEDGWOOD / PKO
Accession number: 1998.100
Photo credit:  Win Wolloff