Button c. late 18th century

This button was produced by the Wedgwood Manufactory, and its small scale belies the cultural complexities it embodies. Wedgwood, an English company, became famous for its Jasperware, like we see here, which often depicted neoclassical scenes. These images, inspired by ancient Greek and Roman art, were highly fashionable among the European elite and were seen as emblems of refinement and education. The button presents a classical scene featuring a female figure, rendered in white against a distinctive Wedgwood blue. She kneels, perhaps performing a ritual, highlighting the era’s fascination with antiquity. Consider the role of women in these neoclassical images: they are often idealized, presented as allegorical figures or objects of beauty. It speaks to the limited roles afforded to women in the 18th and 19th centuries. This button, intended as adornment, reflects and reinforces societal values.