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Lot Essay
Wedgwood's 1878 Illustrated Catalogue of Ornamental Shapes [fig. 1] illustrated under the heading of 'Comports' the various shells that comprised the forms of its 'Wreathed Shell' dessert service. Initiated in creamware around 1790-1795, the service proved most popular. It was reworked in the 19th century so that the forms were more conchologically accurate and produced throught that century in a variety of bodies including pearlware, white ware, majolica, and moonlight lustre.
See Robin Reilly, Wedgwood, London, 1989, vol. II, p. 25, figs. 13, 14 for a white ware part service circa 1812 and for the engraving of the shapes taken from the factory's 1802 shapes book; p. 431, fig. 675 for the page in the 1878 shapes book; p. 483, fig. 805 for caneware exaples; p. 577, fig. 1000 for lustre examples; p. 392, color plate C37 for majolica examples. A pair of white ware cream-bowls, covers and stands was sold Christie's, New York, 21 October 2004, lot 928.
See Robin Reilly, Wedgwood, London, 1989, vol. II, p. 25, figs. 13, 14 for a white ware part service circa 1812 and for the engraving of the shapes taken from the factory's 1802 shapes book; p. 431, fig. 675 for the page in the 1878 shapes book; p. 483, fig. 805 for caneware exaples; p. 577, fig. 1000 for lustre examples; p. 392, color plate C37 for majolica examples. A pair of white ware cream-bowls, covers and stands was sold Christie's, New York, 21 October 2004, lot 928.