How do we tell the history of 18th century Vasemania?

The 18th century saw a profound shift in the value and appreciation of antique pottery, especially the Greek vases found in the tombs of southern Italy. These vases, which had always been regarded as inferior artforms in relation to sculpture, increased spectacularly in popularity and visibility in this period. The publications that celebrated the discovery of these vases would usher in an aesthetic revolution. This lecture explores ways in which we might account for this vase-mania and the collecting practices that it inspired. It also considers the profound impact that these vases had on British decorative arts, especially on figures likes Josiah Wedgwood.

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