SOLD - An Unusually Large Eighteenth Century Blue John Urn
Height: Height 18" 46cm
The superbly striated stone is in very good condition, with elegant tapering neck above a finely shaped body delineated by turned ribbing.
English, Circa 1770
Blue John, or Derbyshire Spar, is a multi-coloured crystalline fluorspar stone that's origins can only be traced to the specific location of the caverns of Treak Cliff near Castleton in Derbyshire. The working of Blue John demands much skill and understanding of the spar's properties as it is soft and brittle in its form, and its colour can be easily changed and lightened by the application of heat. Blue John was used in the creation of ornamental objects dating as far back as the time of Pompeii, however, it's first recorded use in Britain dates from 1743. The use of this wonderfully coloured mineral became increasingly popular in the second half of the eighteenth century, at which time it was used for both decorative and architectural purposes. One of the first pioneers of this type of work was Robert Adam who used 'Blue John' for inlay in the interiors of Kedleston Hall for Lord Scarsdale.
During the second half of the eighteenth century large quantities of the stone were exported to France where the spar was known as bleu-jaune from which the name 'Blue John' derives. French manufacturers used Blue John to create vases and other decorative ornaments, many of which were then re-exported back to England.
The most celebrated British proponent of 'Blue John' was the Birmingham silversmith and ormolu-manufacturer Matthew Boulton who mounted the stone in his skillfully forged ormolu to produce elegant candelabra, urns, candlesticks, perfume burners and vases during the later part of the eighteenth century. Boulton wrote to John Whitehurst of Derby in December of 1768 stating that he had 'found a use for Blew John which will consume some quantity of it. I mean that sort which is proper for turning into vases.' In March of the following year Boulton purchased 14 tons s/a cwt of this prized stone from John Platt at Castleton for the then substantial sum of £81 1s.6d. Undoubtedly much of this quantity of stone was destined to be mounted with his exquisitely worked ormolu which has for centuries graced homes in the form of beautiful ornamental objects, which are now so highly prized by today's collectors.
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Blue John, or Derbyshire Spar, is a multi-coloured crystalline fluorspar stone that's origins can only be traced to the specific location of the caverns of Treak Cliff near Castleton in Derbyshire. The working of Blue John demands much skill and understanding of the spar's properties as it is soft and brittle in its form, and its colour can be easily changed and lightened by the application of heat. Blue John was used in the creation of ornamental objects dating as far back as the time of Pompeii, however, it's first recorded use in Britain dates from 1743. The use of this wonderfully coloured mineral became increasingly popular in the second half of the eighteenth century, at which time it was used for both decorative and architectural purposes. One of the first pioneers of this type of work was Robert Adam who used 'Blue John' for inlay in the interiors of Kedleston Hall for Lord Scarsdale.
During the second half of the eighteenth century large quantities of the stone were exported to France where the spar was known as bleu-jaune from which the name 'Blue John' derives. French manufacturers used Blue John to create vases and other decorative ornaments, many of which were then re-exported back to England.
The most celebrated British proponent of 'Blue John' was the Birmingham silversmith and ormolu-manufacturer Matthew Boulton who mounted the stone in his skillfully forged ormolu to produce elegant candelabra, urns, candlesticks, perfume burners and vases during the later part of the eighteenth century. Boulton wrote to John Whitehurst of Derby in December of 1768 stating that he had 'found a use for Blew John which will consume some quantity of it. I mean that sort which is proper for turning into vases.' In March of the following year Boulton purchased 14 tons s/a cwt of this prized stone from John Platt at Castleton for the then substantial sum of £81 1s.6d. Undoubtedly much of this quantity of stone was destined to be mounted with his exquisitely worked ormolu which has for centuries graced homes in the form of beautiful ornamental objects, which are now so highly prized by today's collectors.
 "An Unusually Large Eighteenth Century Blue John Urn")
