Fellows Auctioneers Ltd

In one of our previous auctions, we sold an Edwardian copy of the widely revered Warwick Vase, cast in glowing silver. We have had the pleasure of selling a few Warwick Vase reproductions in the past. We sold a modern example for £5,000 and another Edwardian copy for an impressive £11,000.

The original Warwick Vase

The original Warwick Vase is an ancient Roman marble vase. It was first owned by the emperor Hadrian (117-138 AD). Hadrian was known as one of the five good emperors, recognised for their careful governance and kind nature. Hadrian was of course also known for his impressive building projects. His most notable was Hadrian’s Wall – but also Hadrian’s Villa, which is where the Warwick Vase was discovered. It was one of many beautiful sculptures that decorated his gardens at the palatial villa.

The vase features Dionysian imagery, evoking the idea of decadence, the pleasure of good food and wine. In the centre, we see Bacchanalian heads, one young and clean-shaven, the other bearded. Both are examples of classical depictions of the god Dionysus. Interwoven into the handles of the vase are delicately carved vines with fruit, and acanthus leaves. Since its discovery, it has contributed greatly to the Neo-Classical school of decorative arts in the UK. Over the centuries, many artists and creatives have taken inspiration from its careful evocation of indulgence.

Excavation and Restoration

In 1771 Gavin Hamilton discovered the vase. He found it fragmented in a marshy pond towards the lower parts of Hadrian’s extensive grounds. Hamilton brought it back to England where he commissioned James Byres to restore it. Hamilton then sold the vase to another Hamilton – Sir William Hamilton. Sir William attempted to sell it to the British Museum, but when they rejected it. He instead gave it to his nephew, George Greville, 2^nd Earl of Warwick. Greville placed it in the grounds of Warwick Castle. Here he built a large gothic greenhouse to protect it from the English weather. This, of course, is where the vase gained its name.

It was eventually sold in 1978 to the Met. However, the vase was declared an object of national importance and the export license was delayed. As it was still not of enough archaeological importance for the British Museum, it was instead moved to the Burrell Collection in Glasgow.