[Wedgwood's masterpiece] 23K painted gold Portland Vase with embossed jade

**Iconic for a reason — A legendary vase from the 1st century Roman Empire is recreated in black basalt and 23K hand-painted gold by the century-old British kiln Wedgwood.** ________________________________________ **History｜The Legacy of Portland Vase** The original Portland Vase is a masterpiece of relief glass from the ancient Roman Empire in the early 1st century AD. It is now housed in Hall 70 of the British Museum and is hailed as "the most perfect glassware in the world." Its dark blue glass body is decorated with pure white reliefs, depicting the wedding scene of Peleus and the sea goddess Thetis in mythology, symbolizing the harmony between man and God, and the unity of reason and beauty. In the 18th century, Josiah Wedgwood copied the original work in 1786. After four years of repeated experiments, he successfully reproduced the composition and spirit of the work for the first time in his own Jasperware, which has since become the most symbolic imitation of antiques in the history of Western ceramics. ________________________________________ **Contemporary Legacy** This piece was produced in 1991 from the Wedgwood Prestige series. It is made of dense black basalt and is hand-painted with 23K gold by a senior British gold artist. The characters in the picture have vivid expressions and classical and elegant postures. The details of the branches and leaves and the folds of the clothes have been carefully polished, shining with golden light, and the relief has clear layers, showing the ultimate tribute of Wedgwood workshop to classical aesthetics. ________________________________________ **Gilding Process** This vase adopts the authentic hand-painted gold technique: it was painted by a senior gold painter commissioned by Wedgwood in the UK. The entire relief picture was depicted with a fine brush of 23K real gold, and the gold surface and the body of the vase are crystallized and fused. The painting process is like calligraphy, where the golden lines are drawn continuously in one stroke. It cannot be changed and can only be completed in one go. The gold painting process requires extremely high precision, especially the transitions between the figures’ limbs, faces and natural branches and leaves. Any slight deviation will require rework, and the yield rate is extremely low. After completion, it is finely polished to ensure that the gold surface retains its original three-dimensional relief appearance, which tests the artist's decades of training and precise touch. ________________________________________ **Collection and Exhibition Value｜More Than a Vase** This vase is not only a crystallization of historical artistic reproduction, but also a spatial art work that can demonstrate the "aesthetic taste of the owner". Whether placed in the central hall of a residence, the entrance of a clubhouse, the alcove of a study, or in a public space, it naturally becomes the visual and spiritual focus of the entire space. Its black and gold contrast creates a sense of theatre for the light, while the characters and branches weave together a rich narrative rhythm. For collectors who value culture and aesthetics, this vase combines imagery from ancient Roman mythology, British neoclassical ceramics and modern hand-gilding techniques. It is not just a decorative vase, but a decorative art work that embodies the spirit of the times. It represents the owner's understanding of historical art, control of life taste, and respect for the inheritance of artistic craftsmanship. As the century-old auction house Sotheby's said: "Masterpieces are not decorations. They are declarations." ________________________________________ **Product Details｜Specifications** • Brand｜British Wedgwood Prestige Series • Material｜Black basalt porcelain (Basalt) + hand-painted 23K gold • Dimensions｜Height 26cm × Width 18cm • Year｜Made in 1991 • Condition｜Brand new with gift box