The Charles Townley Marble Vase - Roman Bacchic Miniature

The Vase That Inspired Keats

The Charles Townley Marble Vase is one of the most celebrated works of classical antiquity—an exquisite Roman carved vase of the 2nd century AD, believed to have been one of the main inspirations for the Romantic poet John Keats (1795-1821) when he wrote his immortal "Ode on a Grecian Urn" in 1819:

What men or gods are these? What maidens loth?
What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape?
What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy?

John Keats, 'Ode on a Grecian Urn' (1819)

A Bacchic Scene in High Relief

An adapted form of the Greek volute-krater, this vase is decorated in high relief with a vivid Bacchic scene featuring the rustic deity Pan and Bacchus's wild followers—both male satyrs and female maenads—in a state of divine frenzy and ecstasy. The energy and drama of the carved figures bring the ancient world to life with extraordinary immediacy and skill.

Found at Monte Cagnolo, Near Rome

Discovered at a villa at Monte Cagnolo near Rome, the vase was found in numerous fragments by Gavin Hamilton—Charles Townley's agent in Italy—together with other sculptures in a large villa, having been "thrown promiscuously into one room about ten feet under ground." The vase was painstakingly reconstructed "with great attention, as the work deserves" and purchased by the celebrated collector Charles Townley (1737-1805) for £250 in 1774.

The Townley Collection Legacy

Charles Townley was one of the greatest collectors of classical antiquities in 18th-century Britain, and this vase became one of the most admired pieces in his celebrated collection. The vase takes its name from this distinguished provenance, cementing its place in the history of British collecting and Grand Tour culture.

Practical as Well as Beautiful

Sculptured Arts Studio have captured all of the fine detail of our larger version perfectly in this exquisite miniature. The vase has a deep cavity inside which will hold water, making it practical as well as decorative. These vases display particularly well on fireplace mantle ends as a pair, creating a symmetrical classical statement of the highest elegance.

Handmade in England

Crafted by Sculptured Arts Studio in Staffordshire, England, using premium marble.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 18 cm (H) × 11 cm (W) × 11 cm (D)
• Material: Marble
• Interior: Deep hollow cavity, suitable for water
• Handmade in England by Sculptured Arts Studio
• Roman, 2nd century AD
• Found at Monte Cagnolo, near Rome
• Named after collector Charles Townley (1737-1805)
• Purchased by Townley for £250 in 1774
• Believed inspiration for Keats's "Ode on a Grecian Urn" (1819)
• Displays beautifully as a pair on fireplace mantle ends

A distinguished miniature that connects your home to one of the most romantic stories in the history of art and classical collecting.