The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-12-23
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hibition4 and sale at their store, on Main
street, "a copy Of the famous Portland vase,
which is wen worthy Of examination by
lovers Of art and Of the antique. z,
This copy, an extract fac-simile Of the
original, is about II inches high and 0 in
diameter, ilg,shaped, with two opposite
short handles, On the sides are Greek
figures in bas-rclief, white, on dark blue
background, So admirableis is this copy Of
an ancient wonder, that it is, in itself, a
'bcSutiful art, besides representing
perfectly an antique vase, more famous
and interesting Than, any other piece of
glassware orpottery ri the world. As a
specimenofthe beautiful wedgwood.ware,
of which tits made, this piece can scarcely
be surpassed; indeed the reputation Of
Josiah Wedgewood was largely established
by his copies OF the, Portland Vase, fifty in
number; which were sold at that time for
fifty guineas, 1.-TWO hundred and fifty dol
lars) EACH Fer the benefit OF those who
may not be familiar with the appearance
and history Of the Portland Vase, we copy
the following description OF it, from MAR
vels of Glass Making" by A. Sanzary:
This vase was found about the sixteenth
century'in,a marble sarcophagus in the
.environs OF Rome. After having been for
more than two centuries the principal or
nament in the gallery OF the Princes Bar.
berini at Rome, Il was bought at a sale by
auction by the Duchess OF Portland, for
the sum.ot eighteen hundred and seventy
two pounds, nearly ten thousand dollars.
Although the legitimate and sole proprie-
tess OF this chez fauFre, the Duchess, who
doubtless did not recognize the right OF
hiding frnnjp public Admiration such 4 un-
ique object, lent this vase to the British
Museums where tits still to be seen. Thus
it was preserved, admired by all the world.
One day, however, there merely remained
nothing more than Che resemblance OF it,
for u lunatic named Lloyd smashed it in
pieces by the blow OF stick. This inju-
lry, committed by madman, was repaired
by an artist in such amanner and with
such sskilfulness, that it was impos-
sible to- distinguish the numerous places
where it was Joined together. This unique
vase, which d supposed 10 have been
made In the time OF the AntoAines (about
l3S years B. C.), Is composed of layers OF
glass, one over the other. The lower one
Is of 4 deep bliecolor, and the other OF
Opaque white, so that the figures stand out
in white on deep blue background.
These two layersl lying ono over the other
SO much resemble an onyx that for long
time the atchRologists described this vase
as being an ancient cameo whilst it is
now well known that 1t Is, as Se have Just
said, glass yese com Posep OF ttyo layers,
But although the material Is perfectly
known. We cannot say as muel, regarding
the subjec which It rspresents, as authori-
ties still differ on this point. We will
quote here what Mlllihgen says with re-
gard to It: ~ y q. }'+' -
''The Portland vase represents the mar.
rage Of ,Releps and, Thetia The woman
seated, Holding serpent In her left hand
Is Thetis, and the man 70 whom she is CIV
ing her right hand Is Peleus. The serpent
recalls the different transformations by
means OF which she reckOned upon escap-
ing marriage The god placed ID front OF
Thetis Is Neptune. 4 Cupid lowering
above them In the air unites the two low
srs. The portieoi behind Peleus probably
signifies the palace Of that prince, or else
the sanctuary in which Thetis received
divine honors On the reverse Thetis is
again seen SEATED, holdings t1reh down
wards on emblem OF sleep. The man
seated at her feet is Peleus; the other
figure with lance In her hand Is the
nymph Of Mount Peleon, where the scene
takes place"