Decorative arts
Vase
1 of 6
From the late sixteenth to the early nineteenth century, it was fashionable for young British aristocrats to visit Italy as a culmination of their classical education. Some of these so-called Grand Tourists acquired artwork—such as ancient vases—during their travels as mementos and as reflections of their taste and learning. Manufactories—like the pottery factory of Josiah Wedgwood—capitalized on the fashion for this artwork, creating items that could be acquired by a wider public wanting to associate themselves with the Grand Tour.
