Urn (one of a pair) 1778 - 1780

This basalt urn was created by James Neale in the late 18th or early 19th century, showcasing a neo-classical fascination with antiquity. Notice the solemn faces that jut from the sides; they serve as handles, yet their presence evokes a sense of ancient ritual. The cameo at the urn’s center—likely depicting a Greco-Roman figure—tethers this piece to classical ideals, echoing the busts of emperors that lined Roman villas. Consider how such images resurface throughout history, as seen in Renaissance medals or even the profiles on modern coinage. The urn, traditionally a vessel for ashes, links to themes of memory, loss, and transformation. Its very shape is a symbolic echo of the human form, its hollowness a reminder of life’s transience. Such symbols engage us on a primal level. The cyclical progression of classical symbols through time illustrates how humanity continually revisits its past, seeking meaning in ancient forms while imbuing them with new significance.