Contents
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The History of Wedgwood
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Iconic Collection
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Classic Collection
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Decorative Collection
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Queen’s Ware
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2009 is the year of Wedgwood, a year that will celebrate our history in all its elegant glory. Our story spans 250 years worth of discovery, vision, experimentation and triumph. From our humble British beginnings to iconic global status, Wedgwood’s celebration will be one of past and future. And this is also a celebration of people. The magnificent efforts of our intrepid founder Josiah; our illustrious patrons, royal and otherwise; the craftsmen who still hand press wafer-thin slivers of bas-relief at our home in Barlaston.
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The story of Josiah Wedgwood; inventor, philanthropist, pioneer, humanitarian and master potter – a man who endeavoured to change the world.
Born on July 12 1730 in Burslem, a small Staffordshire town in the 18th century, Josiah was the last child of a 12 strong brood. Young Josiah’s childhood was a happy one, until aged nine his father (himself a potter) died. After finishing school in 1739, Josiah worked at his brother’s pottery where he stayed until he outgrew it. He left in 1752 with expert skills and a head full of ambition, ready to make his fame and fortune.
“He was the greatest man who ever, in any age or country, applied himself to the important work of uniting art with industry” Prime Minister William Gladstone, 1863
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A fruitful partnership with Thomas Whieldon when Josiah was aged 24 marked the beginning of great things to come and Josiah spent five years with him, honing his craft and developing his business-sense. His constant scientific experimentation yielded results and each scrap of thinking was recorded in his notebooks, his precious ‘Experiment Books’; he glazed, he mixed colours, he tinkered, he perfected. It was a request from Queen Charlotte though that changed Josiah’s fortunes for good. He was asked to make her a teaset. No ordinary teaset (this was the Queen after all),
it came complete with candlesticks and fruit baskets, all made from his fashionable cream coloured earthenware. He presented it in 1765 and his feat was rewarded with Royal approval. The pottery became known as Queen’s Ware and Josiah rather grandly became ‘Potter to her Majesty’. Made brave and bold by his success, Josiah decided to go it alone in 1759. Seizing his chance to spread the Wedgwood name, Josiah turned each piece of his pottery into a miniature billboard, stamping each and every fragile article with his own name. He was one of the first manufacturers to understand the mighty impact of celebrity endorsement.
Wedgwood Queen Charlotte Jasper Cameo
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Pyrometer
The good times began to roll. In 1767 Josiah found an estate upon which he built Wedgwood’s home, he named it Etruria Hall. After formally partnering up with Thomas Bentley in 1769, business boomed under Josiah’s innovative approach; he turned men into skilled labourers; he offered health insurance and pension plans; he invented the potter’s pyrometer; he championed the building of canals to transport his wares.
And such meticulous attention to process freed him to create; Jasper Ware, Queen’s Ware, Black Basalt, the Portland Vase – each of them a Wedgwood triumph. Josiah enjoyed a long, creative and prosperous life. His marriage to his beloved Sarah (known to loved ones as Sally) and the children that yielded and his illuminating friendships with the Lunar Men (an 18th century group of
Slave Medallion
thinkers) kept Josiah constantly excited by and engaged with the world around him and his achievements weren’t contained to business alone. In 1787 he helped Thomas Clarkson and Granville Sharp form the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, a cause in which he believed with heart and soul. He maintained that the 2,000 Slave Medallions (with the motto ‘Am I not a man and a brother’) he produced were one of the most
important contributions he had made to society. Reluctant to grow old (too much still to discover), unable to sit still (too much still to do) Josiah remained close to his beloved business until the day he died in 1795. His legacy is a potent one; a premium brand with recognition the whole world over.
Etruria
‘It is really amazing how rapidly… (our china) has spread over the whole globe and how universally it is liked.’ Josiah Wedgwood
Josiah Wedgwood Jasper Cameo
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The Distinguished House of Wedgwood is a testament to the enduring legacy of Josiah Wedgwood and his pioneering techniques, which have celebrated the extraordinary skills of English craftsmanship for the past 250 years.
Floral Garland Bowl Crystal Punch Bowl with white and black Jasper plinth 36cm – Limited edition of 50
Iconic Collection Combining Wedgwood’s most iconic elements; black jasper, engine turning, knurling and ornamenting. Distinctive, authentic and unmistakeably Wedgwood.
Large Portland Vase White on black Jasper 26cm
Ornamenting Ornamenting is the process of applying moulded relief ornament to the surface of an item.The ornaments are applied by hand to a moistened surface and affixed with gentle pressure requiring considerable skill. 06
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Iconic Collection
Dancing Hours Bowl White on black Jasper 26cm
Flaxman Chess Set White on black Jasper, hand painted and gilded 61 x 61cm – Limited edition of 25
Three Graces Table Lamp Black Jasper 69cm – Limited edition of 75 Gilded Portland Vase Black Jasper 26cm Acanthus Bowl Black Jasper 26cm
Black Basalt Teaset Teapot 1.1ltr
Dancing Hours Plaque White on black Jasper 19 x 34 cm – Limited edition of 200 08
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Iconic Collection Engine Turning Josiah Wedgwood introduced engine turning as a technique to the ceramic industry in 1763. Engine turning is similar in its action to a standard wood or metal lathe except that it has an eccentric motion. The engine turning lathe currently in use is little different from the original prototype, preserved in working order at Wedgwood, apart from being powered by electricity.
Palladian Vase Crystal Vase with black Jasper lid 35cm – Limited edition of 100 Panther Vase White and black Jasper Limited edition of 200 10
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Mercury Bust Black Jasper 25cm
Iconic Collection Cupid and Psyche Figurines (Pair) Black and white Jasper 25cm – Limited edition of 200
Figurative Work Wedgwood has a strong heritage in producing figurative ware in Black Basalt and Jasper. Frequently these figurative items have had a classical theme.
Brainstone Vase Black Jasper 40 x 34cm
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Iconic Collection
Classic Collection
Minerva Candlestick White, taupe and black Jasper 35cm
Diana Candlestick White, taupe and black Jasper 35cm
Egyptian Pastille Burner Black Jasper 21cm – Limited edition of 60
Bacchus and Panther Plaque Gilded black Jasper 18 x 23cm 14
First Day’s Vase Saxon blue Jasper hand painted 30cm – Limited edition of 50 15 11
Classic Collection
A collection that celebrates Wedgwood’s rich, elegant style, inspired from our neo-classical past. Blue jasper, ornamenting and raised gold are used to create this distinctive and classic Wedgwood look.
Large Portland Vase White on Saxon blue Jasper with wooden stand 50cm – Limited edition of 50
First Day’s Vase – Hand Stamped by Lord Wedgwood Saxon blue Jasper hand painted 30cm – Limited edition of 6
Snake Handled Vase and Stand White on pale blue Jasper 70cm – Limited edition of 30 16
Lady Templetown Teaset Saxon blue, black and white Jasper Teapot 250ml – Limited edition of 75 17
Classic Collection
Pâte-sur-pâte The technique of pâte-sur-pâte is achieved by painting on Jasper using white slip clay. Layers are built up to form a semi transparent relief on a coloured background resulting in beautifully soft images.
Three Graces Plaque White on Saxon blue Jasper 36 x 28cm
Cupid Mantle Clock White on Saxon blue Jasper 25cm – Limited edition of 50
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Saxon Fluted Lamp Saxon blue, black and white Jasper 68cm – Limited edition of 150
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Classic Collection Powdering This technique provides a surface texture which imitates the powder blue ground of Chinese pottery which was revived by Wedgwood in 1810. It is produced by laying a ground of solid colour and then stippling it with a fine grained sponge.
Satyr Vase Fine bone China 33cm – Limited edition of 200
Offering to Peace Plaque White on Saxon blue Jasper 25 x 39cm – Limited edition of 200
Cameo Plaque Cameos surrounded by black Jasper frame 41 x 36cm – Limited edition of 50 20
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Classic Collection
Dancing Hours Plaque White on pale blue Jasper 19 x 34cm – Limited edition of 200
Offerings to Apollo Goblet White black and Saxon blue Jasper 15cm – Limited edition of 150
Portland Vase s/s Saxon blue on white Jasper 15cm – Limited edition of 150
The Lovers’ Plaque White and black Jasper 26 x 26cm – Limited edition of 75 22
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Pegasus Diced Plate Saxon blue, turquoise, white and lilac Jasper 23cm – Limited edition of 300
Classic Collection
Dicing Dicing is a Jasper pattern produced on the engine turning lathe. The chequered effect is obtained by cutting through a coloured dip to a contrasting colour (usually white) at regular intervals.
Arabesque Vase Saxon blue, turquoise and white Jasper 22cm – Limited edition of 300 24
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Decorative Collection
John Wedgwood Collection – Hand painted Floral Hand painted Floral Plates set of 4 25cm – Limited edition of 250
Wedgwood’s expressive and rich archive is the inspiration for this collection. Hand painting, piercing, enamelling and raised gold create intricately fine pieces for a very decorative Wedgwood. Pot Pourri Jar Hand painted and gilded black Jasper 28cm – Limited edition of 50
Miniature Teapots Set of 3 hand painted black Jasper 9cm – Limited edition of 200 26
Enamelling The Wedgwood hand Enamelled product is produced by the application of enamel colours with a fine brush.The hand enamelled items for the 250th anniversary collection revolve around floral subjects, however a huge variety of subjects have been painted in the past. 27
Decorative Collection
Octagon Teaset Turquoise, lilac and white Jasper Teapot 350ml
Prunus Bowl White on Chocolate Jasper 22 x 24cm – Limited edition of 75
Flower Vase Hand painted Fine Bone China 43cm
Gilding Gilding and raised gold decoration is applied to many Wedgwood pieces. For raised gold work the relief decoration is first applied in a paste and fired. The raised pattern is then gilded by hand.This technique was introduced in 1802. Botanical Teaset Hand painted Fine Bone China Teapot 1.1ltr 28
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Dynasty Vase 43cm Terracotta on black Jasper
Decorative Collection Acorn Vase Light taupe and white Jasper 22cm
Paradise Garden Teaset Fine Bone China 23cm
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Decorative Collection
Golden Bird Footed Bowl 22x24cm
Jasper Turned Bowl Black Jasper 26cm 32
Famille Rose Plate Black Jasper 20cm – Limited edition of 75 33
Queen’s Ware
Originally known as Cream Ware. In 1766 Queen Charlotte was delighted to receive a Cream Ware Teaset, following this Josiah was awarded the honour of “Potter to Her Majesty” and Cream Ware was renamed Queen’s Ware.
Piercing Piercing is achieved by cutting out areas to be ‘pierced’ with a sharp tool when the moulded piece has dried to a ‘leather’ or ‘cheese’ hardness. It requires a deft and steady hand which is also necessary for ‘weaving’ together the strips of clay to construct the Twig Basket and Stand.
Orange Bowl Queen’s Ware 20cm
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Queen’s Ware Chatsworth Plaque Fine Bone China 27 x 39cm – Limited edition of 200
Syon House Plaque Fine Bone China 27 x 39cm – Limited edition of 200
Oxford Plaque Fine Bone China 27 x 39cm – Limited edition of 200
Etruria Hall Plaque Fine Bone China 27 x 39cm – Limited edition of 200 Gilded Epergne Earthenware with gilding 65cm – Limited edition of 25 36
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Queen’s Ware Empress Collection, Set of 6 Plates Queen’s Ware 22cm – Limited edition of 300 sets
1. Enville Hall
3. The Mall, St Jame’s Park
2. Windermere, Lake District
4. Wycombe Park
6. Chatsworth House
5. Fountains Abbey, Yorkshire
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Epergne Queen’s Ware 65cm 39
Queen’s Ware
Naiads Bowl Queen’s Ware 27 x 43cm
Twig Fruit Stand Queen’s Ware 28cm
Twig Fruit Basket Queen’s Ware 26cm Dolphin Candlestick Left Queen’s Ware 24cm
Dolphin Candlestick Right Queen’s Ware 24cm
WEDGWOOD WWRD United Kingdom Ltd Barlaston Stoke on Trent ST12 9ER England Telephone +44 (0)1782 204141 Fax +44 (0)1782 204402 Wedgwood®, Jasper®, Queen’s Ware® are registered trademarks ©WWRD Holdings Ltd 2009 Printed in England www.wedgwood.com 40