Developed by Josiah Wedgwood in the 1760s, rosso antico (‘antique red’) referenced the traditional red clay wares produced in Staffordshire during the 17th and 18th century as well as the even more ancient pottery concurrently excavated from Pompeii and Herculaneum. Although rosso antico wares initially exhibited Classical designs, the factory quickly pivoted to the Egyptian style in the early 19th century during the height of Egyptomania brought about through Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign. This pair of jardinieres exhibits a fine basket weave pattern, accomplished through engine turning. Wedgwood perfected this technology on his rosso antico wares before going on to use it on a wide variety of other wares, such as black basalt and canewares.