Works of Art Exhibited at Marlborough House, 1854: Medallions by Flaxman

Photograph showing eight circular and oval medallions of white jasperware with black dip. Each medallion is decorated with applied white bas-relief depicting classical figures. For instance, the larger medallion, at the centre of the photograph, depicts a naked young Bacchus with his attributes of a wreath of vine-leaves and grapes on his head. He holds a thyrsus (a wand tipped with a pine cone) and is being raised aloft in a sitting position by two wingless cherubs who stand on either side of him.

Jasperware was developed by Josiah Wedgewood (1730-95) and refers to a type of matte, unglazed stoneware.