Exactly two hundred and thirty-one years ago, a reproduction of the 'Portland Vase' (an object made in Rome in the first century) went on show in London. It was such a popular event that tickets had to be sold to restrict the flow of visitors.
The original vase (see pic above) is made of glass. However, strangely, a glass copy of it would have been impossible in the eighteenth century, so the reproduction, made by Josiah Wedgwood at his factory in North Staffordshire, is a pottery version - 'jasperware'.
In Staffordshire we know Josiah's copy very well, because it was his crowning achievement, which took him four years to perfect. It is vibrantly yet delicately beautiful; there is no doubt of that. You can still see one of Josiah's versions at the V&A Museum.
By the way, the story of the original vase would make a great film - full of crazy people, obsessed people and shocking moments. It must be made!
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