The Portland Vase is thought to have been crafted during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus (27 BC-14 AD). A work of outstanding technical skill, it is decorated with scenes of love and marriage, the precise meaning of which has been the cause of much debate and interpretation.

This book offers an exciting new reading of the vase, setting it in the context of the dramatic relationships between Octavia, Anthony and Cleopatra. It also explores the lively history of the vase, from the earliest records in Italy to its purchase by Sir William Hamilton and the Dukes of Portland, and its abiding influence on British craftsmen such as Josiah Wedgwood.