A New Elucidation of the Subjects on the Celebrated Portland Vase
A new elucidation of the subjects on the celebrated Portland vase, formerly called the Barberini and the sarcophagus in which it was discovered
This beautifully illustrated and rare--actually, first and only edition folio--is a study of the subject matter depicted on a Roman glass cameo vase (AD1-AD25) called the Portland Vase. The Portland Vase inspired glass and porcelain makers including Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795) who produced a duplicate in black and white jasperware in 1790. Discovered in the sarcophagus of Emperor Alexander Severus near Rome in 1582, the vase passed through the Barberini family, British ambassador Sir William Hamilton, and finally to the 2nd & 3rd Dukes of Portland who gave it to the British Museum. Author Thomas Windus (1778-1854), an English coachbuilder and collector of engraved gems, explores the iconography on the vase depicting Augustus, his family, and his rivals, as well as marine creatures such as sea snakes, and a marriage scene. This is an early and important study of this rare masterpiece of Roman glass.
This book features a mid 19th century cloth publisher's binding with a decorative cover featuring a vase. The spine is largely missing. The pages are soiled at the edges and a plate is detached at the front of the book. Conservators will re-back the volume with airplane linen toned to compliment the original bookcloth color. The detached plate will be re-attached. An attempt will be made to clean the soiled pages with a soot sponge.
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Adoption Type: Preserve for the Future
