- Museum number
- C371.68
- Object
- Plaquette: Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, Count of Mirabeau (1749–1791), Wedgwood, jasperware, 1785-1795
- Description
- Portrait Medallion. Thin Circular 1785-95 Dark blue Jasper dip with raised white anthemion border and male profile looking right. Lapidary polished edges. Honore Gabriel de Riqueti, Compe de Mirabeau.( 1749-91)b at Bignon, Provence, the younger son of the Marquies de Mirabeau. Joined a cavalry regiment at 17, left the army in 1770. Married 1772, 1773 was imprisoned for debt, on relase fled to Amsterdam, worked for a bookseller & wrote ''Essai sur le Despotismie''. 1777 confined to fortress of Vincennes 7 wrote a no. of sensational works. Mission to Berlin 1786, provided material for life of Frederick the Great. Member of Nat. Assy. at beg. of Revolution. Oratory inflamed themob. Att.to save Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette. 1791 President Nat. Assy. Died shortly after.
- Materials
- Earthenware
- Inscription
- Wedgwood J(or I)
- On display?
- Yes
Further description
- Simple name
- Cameo
- Subject
- Portrait
Plaquette: Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, Count of Mirabeau (1749–1791)
Jasperware, between 1785 and 1795
C371.68
In 1772 the famous potter and entrepreneur Josiah Wedgwood (1730–95) opened a showroom in Westgate Buildings, Bath. The tables were covered with green baize, yellow ochre wallpaper set off the Black Basaltware and sea green paper was the background for his ‘pebble’ vases. Wedgwood had recognised the commercial opportunities when he brought his wife to the city but was also keenly aware of the competition.
After two years he moved to smarter and larger premises in Milsom Street and advertised in the Bath Chronicle that he was selling: ‘Vases, Urns, Ewers, Bas-Reliefs, Cameos, Cameo-Medallions, Imitations of Porphyry, Jasper, Agate and other beautiful Stones, Pots for Flowers, Roots, bulbous Roots, Toilets, Pyramids etc with great Variety of Cypher-Seals... At the same prices as in their Warehouse in Greek-Street, Soho.’
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