Wedgwood used their classic rosso antico body with black sprig figures for this medium size flower pot.  Wedgwood freely borrowed figures from their various sacrificial tableau to populate a classic frieze decoration. A floral garland band decorates the accompanying undertray.

While we do not know of ancient examples of black relief on terra cotta, Wedgwood used the color formula and its reverse, for pieces meant to evoke antiquities of the Mediterranean region. The color combination does recall the red and black decorated ceramics then being excavated in Italy. Such "painted vases" were known in England primarily through colored engravings which would have related to Wedgwood's product.