Description
Wedgwood Egyptian Collection Black Basalt Lidded Box with Gilded Tutankhamun Profile, England 1978
A striking Wedgwood Egyptian Collection lidded box, executed in black basalt with finely detailed gold relief, produced in England in 1978. This piece reflects a distinctive moment in Wedgwood’s design history, when classical ceramic traditions were reinterpreted through the visual language of ancient Egypt.
This piece is documented within the original Wedgwood Egyptian Collection brochure (1978), which outlines the materials, design themes, and structure of the series.
Design and Artistic Detail
The box is formed in Wedgwood’s iconic black basalt body, a material first developed in the 18th century and valued for its dense, unglazed surface and resemblance to carved stone. The deep matte black provides a dramatic ground for the applied gold decoration, creating a refined contrast that echoes the aesthetic of ancient Egyptian artifacts.
The lid features a finely modeled gilded profile of Tutankhamun, wearing the traditional nemes headdress with a raised uraeus at the brow. The figure is adorned with a detailed broad collar, rendered with precision and clarity. The composition is inspired by imagery from the golden shrine and other treasures discovered in the young pharaoh’s tomb, translated here into Wedgwood’s distinctive relief format. While not a direct reproduction of a single artifact, the design closely reflects the visual language associated with Tutankhamun and the rich iconography of ancient Egyptian royal imagery.
The use of gold on black basalt was a deliberate design choice, intended to evoke the richness of ancient Egyptian funerary objects, where gold symbolized eternity and divine status. The restrained form of the box allows the central portrait to remain the focal point, giving the piece both sculptural presence and decorative refinement.
Context and Production
Wedgwood’s Egyptian Collection emerged in the late 1970s during a renewed global fascination with ancient Egypt, following major museum exhibitions of Tutankhamun’s treasures. These pieces were produced for a relatively short period and represent a distinct departure from Wedgwood’s more traditional jasperware lines.
The underside bears the impressed WEDGWOOD / MADE IN ENGLAND mark along with the number “78,” indicating production in 1978. A small gilt “J” is present and is consistent with a decorator’s mark, identifying the artisan responsible for the applied gold work.
The box is in excellent vintage condition, with no chips, cracks, or restoration observed. The gilded decoration remains well preserved, and the surface retains its original finish. Both decorative and functional, the piece can be used as a small trinket or jewelry box while also serving as a sculptural display object.
