4 minute read
Pieces of the Past
Charles and Linda Graham have a spacious cottage at the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown — the perfect size to house their extensive collection of Wedgwood Jasperware in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Every piece offers an equally varied history.
Each plate, vase, tile, tea set or other dishware tells a story: of the piece itself and of how it came into the Grahams’ possession. The oldest dates back to the 1700s. Several are limited edition, with 50 or fewer made.
THE STORY BEHIND WEDGWOOD
Josiah Wedgwood started as an independent potter in 1759 in Burslem, England. He was only 29, a young age to be on his own as a tradesman. He experimented with more than 5,000 different formulas and colors for stoneware. In 1774, Jasper, which would become the most famous of his inventions, made its public debut.
The unglazed vitreous stoneware was made in blue, green, lilac, yellow, black or white. Wedgwood Blue is the brand’s most recognizable style. Bas reliefs (mostlyflat sculptures) were added to the colored stoneware prior to being fired in the kiln. Molds reproduced from the original reliefs are still used today. Josiah was chosen to design dinnerware for Royal Families and Heads of State, beginning with Queen Charlotte, great-great-great-grandmother of Queen Elizabeth. He was granted permission to be called the “Potter to Her Majesty.”
The stoneware is created with high standards of quality control. Apprentices must train for 10 years before they are named Master Craftspeople. The Grahams saw the process first-hand when they visited the Wedgwood factory in Barlaston, England.
THE GRAHAMS’ STORY
Charles’ mother collected Blue Wedgwood, so it was only a matter of time before he bought his bride, Linda, her first Wedgwood piece: a green egg. Linda is more partial to green, although their collection also includes blue, yellow and other specialty pieces.
The rest is history. The little green egg has turned into a collection with hundreds of unique items. Their collection is mostly complete, and they only make new purchases if it’s something rare or special. Linda tracks a few items from her wish list on eBay and other auction sites.
They have a number of pieces from Wedgwood’s Egyptian Collection, featuring black stoneware and 24K gold. Some of the pieces are reproductions of original Egyptian designs Josiah Wedgwood created for Napoleon.
They also have several items from the Greek Revival Collection, which are classical and symmetrical in design.
Two pieces, which at first glance appear to be cake pedestals, are cheese domes, used to store soft cheese and keep mice out. Another rectangular piece was used to cook meat pies, a popular item during meat and flour rations in the past.
Linda and Charles are Philadelphia natives, living in the city prior to moving to Masonic Village. One specialty piece is a ceramic bowl made in honor of the city’s bicentennial in 1987 and handed out by the mayor to dignitaries.
Featuring more than just Wedgwood, their home is a museum of collections from their travels and interests.
Linda and Charles have spent much of their retirement exploring the world, visiting every continent but Antarctica. They’ve spent more than 600 total days aboard the ship Queen Mary 2.
“Anywhere the ship goes, we go,” Linda said.
Among their destinations are Alaska, Tibet, India, China, above the Arctic Circle and the Galapagos Islands. Their most memorable stops were Thailand, Britain and Germany. They have an upcoming trip to Australia and look forward to touring South Africa, Namibia and Mauritius in the future.
Their other collections include German steins, 78 rpm records and 500 bottles of French and California wine, for which they had a temperature-controlled wine cellar constructed in their basement. The most rare bottle is an ’86 Pétrus.
Special meals call for special wine, and they always do their homework on what foods pair best with which variety of wine.
Charles is a member of Frankford Lodge No. 292, Philadelphia, and a former District Deputy Grand Master. He and Linda visited Masonic Village at Elizabethtown on several occasions for Autumn Day. They were thrilled when the cottage they wanted became available. When they moved in 2014, they took photos of the displays at their former home so they could replicate them in their cottage. In addition to housing their extensive collections, their home at Masonic Village offers a sense of peace and security.
“I was a high school principal, and I never knew when I’d be home,” Linda said.
Linda and Charles also know when they travel, their home will be secure, and they’re surrounded by trustworthy neighbors. All they have to worry about is what destination to explore next.
While their collections fill the corners of their home, it is the memories and stories of each item they truly cherish.
