Description
Wedgwood Egyptian Collection Hexagonal Jasperware Box with Ba Bird Motif, England 1978
A distinctive Wedgwood Egyptian Collection hexagonal lidded box with Ba Bird motif, executed in terra cotta on black jasperware and produced in England in 1978. This piece reflects a highly recognizable moment in late 20th-century design, when Wedgwood revisited its historic decorative techniques through the lens of ancient Egyptian art.
Part of the original Egyptian Collection issued during the height of the Tutankhamun exhibition era, this example belongs to Wedgwood’s Jasper Collection, characterized by matte black grounds enriched with applied terra cotta relief. The result is a refined contrast that echoes both classical Wedgwood aesthetics and the visual language of ancient Egyptian ornament.
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 Iconography
The hexagonal lid features a finely modeled Ba bird, depicted as a human-headed bird holding a ritual object resembling a sistrum. In ancient Egyptian belief, the Ba represented the soul or spiritual essence, capable of moving between the worlds of the living and the dead. This motif gives the piece a symbolic dimension that extends beyond purely decorative appeal.
Surrounding the central figure are six rosette motifs, arranged with careful symmetry to complement the geometry of the hexagonal form. The sides of the box are adorned with winged scarab emblems flanked by uraei, traditional symbols of protection and regeneration in Egyptian iconography. Together, these elements create a cohesive decorative program rooted in themes of renewal, protection, and continuity.
The relief decoration is executed using Wedgwood’s traditional sprigging technique, in which individually cast elements are applied by hand to the surface before firing. The crispness of the modeling and the clarity of the details are particularly well preserved in this example.
Context and Production
Wedgwood’s Egyptian Collection was introduced in 1978 as a reinterpretation of Wedgwood’s earlier Egyptian Revival designs in response to a renewed global fascination with ancient Egypt, following major museum exhibitions of Tutankhamun’s treasures. The collection was produced for a relatively short period and included both hand-gilded black basalt pieces and jasperware designs such as this one, distinguished by terra cotta relief on black or primrose grounds.
The underside bears the impressed WEDGWOOD / MADE IN ENGLAND mark along with a date code indicating 1978 production, confirming its place within the original release of the collection.
The box is in very good vintage condition, with crisp relief detail and no visible damage to the applied decoration. The matte surface retains its characteristic finish, showing only light, age-appropriate handling. Both decorative and functional, it serves equally well as a small trinket or jewelry box or as a sculptural accent piece.
