(pronunciation: as spelled)
Location: England.
Wedgwood is best known for the jasper ware Josiah Wedgwood devised soon after starting the company in 1759. This clay body is not glazed, but vitrifies to a bisque finish. Wedgwood performed thousands of experiments before he had a clay body of the right colors which could be decorated by thin white molded porcelain figures and decoration. Wedgwood capitalized on the late 18th century interest in ancient civilizations in the decorative style and subjects he used for jasper ware. Even today, Greek maidens and putti adorn the jasper ware tea sets, clock, pin trays, covered boxes, etc. This line has been so successful ever since its inception that it has been imitated by other manufacturers in England, and companies in Germany (Schafer and Vater), China and elsewhere. True Wedgwood jasper ware is marked Wedgwood.
Wedgwood also produces children’s dinnerware based on the story of Peter Cottontail. This pattern has been in production for many years.
Lately Wedgwood has started to produce a line called petal ware. This line consists of decorative items in white porcelain with hand crafted blossoms and leaves in white added. No colors are used on these items.
Wedgwood has started using the talents of outside designers in order to produce china more to the taste of current generations. Vera Wang, Joseph Conran, Barbara Barry, Will Broome, and Robert Dawson have designed wares in porcelain, glass and sterling silver for Wedgwood.
To see listings on eBay, go to my Squidoo lens on the subject.
My opinion: Wedgwood china dinnerware, crystal and flatware are mostly like anyone else’s. The magic of Wedgwood is the black basalt and jasper ware. From the manufacturer, these are a little expensive, so be sure you get your absolute favorite piece first in case more money does not become available. Wedgwood decorative items and china can be found for less at auctions and on eBay, especially in lots.
* * * Use plate racks to display some of your plate collection. * * *
Product lines:
china: white, platinum and gold band, colored patterns
glassware: resembles Waterford.
flatware: sterling silver and stainless steel.
jasper ware: ornaments, centerpieces, clocks, frames, tea sets, vases (including copies of the Portland Vase in two sizes), vanity and pin trays, covered boxes, lamp bases.
black basalt: tea service of plain black forms.
candles and candle holders
bowls and centerpieces
clocks, desk accessories, frames
Peter Rabbit children’s china
Johnson Brothers: Old Britain Castles, Willow and other china patterns.
Franciscan: Desert Rose and Apple pottery patterns.
Prices:
dinnerware: in line with other china manufacturers.
jasper ware: from $30 (ornament) to $6000 (tea set), depending on size and number of pieces.
Special pieces were produced for Wedgwood’s 250th anniversary.
You need to know prices so can pick up under-priced items as seller discount on new items is not normal.
Collector’s Society: none mentioned.
The official company site is: http://www.wedgwood.com/
History
Wedgwood was founded in 1759 by Josiah Wedgwood. He developed “Queen’s Ware” in 1765, and its success allowed him to purchase Etruria, an estate in Staffordshire in 1766. This property serves as home and factory site until 1940, when production was moved to a purpose-built factory in Barlaston. Wedgwood developed a way to accurately measure the temperature in kilns, resulting in Wedgwood’s election to the Royal Society in 1783. Wedgwood developed other new ceramic wares, black basalt and jasper ware. The decorations for items produced in these ceramic bodies were decorated with designs from the mythologies of Rome, Greece and Egypt. These reflected the popular taste of the time and the company continues to produce them today. Artist John Flaxman was one of the principle designers of the Greek figures made of white porcelain and which are added to the jasper ware bodies. Wedgwood also developed a bone china formula in 1812 and this became an important part of what, for a long time, was an extremely profitable family business.
Leadership of the company remained in the family until 1968, proving that family-run businesses can survive economically on occasion. The company was purchased by Waterford in 1986, and the two formed a group named Waterford Wedgwood. In 1987 Wedgwood became part of WWRD: Waterford crystal, Wedgwood, and Royal Doulton. This group also includes Coalport, Mason’s, and Johnson Brothers porcelain concerns, and Stuart and Edinburgh crystal companies.
The company founder had the foresight to save examples of all the company production beginning in 1774. A museum opened in 1906 at Etruria, and was moved to Barlaston in 1952. It has been expanded and renovated as needed, and is now housed in award-winning building that opened in 2008. This museum also houses the Minton archives, which includes papers covering designs, manufacturing and processes from 1792-1968, document from Royal Doulton.
The new millennium has brought financial difficulties and relocation of production facilities to the Far East. Time will determine whether this saves or condemns the manufacturer of one of the most recognizable product lines in the world.
History mostly provided by Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedgwood
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