The combination of Wedgwood's sensuously beautiful crimson jasper color with an appropriate relief subject are all that are needed to render a simple round covered box into an object of luxury. On the lid the winged horse Pegasus revels in the pampering lavished on him by his female admirers, the muses. Can we detect the hint of an equine smile? The group dates to the eighteenth century and is attributed to either John Flaxman or William Hackwood.

A rose garland border continues the feminine nature of the decoration. More restrained devices ornament the sides of the base, continuing the floral theme in a more formal manner. 

Whatever purpose it may have served, the boudoir was clearly the right environment for the box. It was designed to be among a lady's dearest treasures.

Wedgwood produced a vast array of boxes in multiple bodies with various types of decoration.  Jasper boxes are among the most plentiful and vary from the little rectangular boxes and covered cylinders used to hold matches, to petite cosmetic pots, to larger boxes with uses ranging from bon bons to cigarettes.  Other bodies include basalt decorated with Wedgwood's enamel "Chinese Flowers" design and rosso antico with black relief suggestive of archaic times. Whatever the body or original intent, all exhibit Wedgwood's great sense of style and elegance. 

We always warn novice collectors of possible confusion with Wedgwood's recently produced "wine" color jasper; the more purplish wine occurs as solid jasper, while crimson is always jasper dip.