2009 is the year of Wedgwood, a yearthat will celebrate our history in all its elegant glory. Our story spans 250 years worth of discovery, vision,experimentation and triumph. From ourhumble British beginnings to iconicglobal status, Wedgwood’s celebrationwill 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.

Contents Page

The History of Wedgwood 2

Iconic Collection 6

Classic Collection 15

Decorative Collection 26

Queen’s Ware 34

01

Born on July 12 1730 in Burslem, a smallStaffordshire town in the 18th century, Josiahwas the last child of a 12 strong brood. YoungJosiah’s childhood was a happy one, until agednine his father (himself a potter) died. Afterfinishing school in 1739, Josiah worked at hisbrother’s pottery where he stayed until heoutgrew it. He left in 1752 with expert skillsand a head full of ambition, ready to make hisfame and fortune.

A fruitful partnership with Thomas Whieldonwhen Josiah was aged 24 marked thebeginning of great things to come and Josiahspent five years with him, honing his craft anddeveloping his business-sense. His constantscientific experimentation yielded results andeach scrap of thinking was recorded in hisnotebooks, his precious ‘Experiment Books’;he glazed, he mixed colours, he tinkered, heperfected.

It was a request from Queen Charlottethough that changed Josiah’s fortunes forgood. He was asked to make her a teaset. Noordinary teaset (this was the Queen after all),

The story of Josiah Wedgwood; inventor,philanthropist, pioneer, humanitarian andmaster potter – a man who endeavoured to change the world.

it came complete with candlesticks and fruitbaskets, all made from his fashionable creamcoloured earthenware. He presented it in1765 and his feat was rewarded with Royalapproval. The pottery became known asQueen’s Ware and Josiah rather grandlybecame ‘Potter to her Majesty’.

Made brave and bold by his success, Josiahdecided to go it alone in 1759. Seizing hischance to spread the Wedgwood name,Josiah turned each piece of his pottery into aminiature billboard, stamping each and everyfragile article with his own name. He was oneof the first manufacturers to understand themighty impact of celebrity endorsement.

02 03

“He was the greatest manwho ever, in any age orcountry, applied himself to the important work ofuniting art with industry”Prime Minister

William Gladstone, 1863

Wedgwood Queen Charlotte Jasper Cameo

The good times began to roll. In 1767 Josiah found an estate upon which he builtWedgwood’s home, he named it Etruria Hall.After formally partnering up with ThomasBentley in 1769, business boomed underJosiah’s innovative approach; he turned meninto skilled labourers; he offered healthinsurance and pension plans; he invented thepotter’s pyrometer ; he championed thebuilding of canals to transport his wares.

And such meticulous attention to processfreed him to create; Jasper Ware, Queen’sWare, Black Basalt, the Portland Vase – eachof them a Wedgwood triumph.

Josiah enjoyed a long, creative and prosperouslife. His marriage to his beloved Sarah (knownto loved ones as Sally) and the children thatyielded and his illuminating friendships withthe Lunar Men (an 18th century group of

‘It is really amazing how rapidly… (our china) has spread over the wholeglobe and how universally it is liked.’Josiah Wedgwood

thinkers) kept Josiah constantly excited by andengaged with the world around him and hisachievements weren’t contained to businessalone. In 1787 he helped Thomas Clarksonand Granville Sharp form the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, a cause inwhich he believed with heart and soul. Hemaintained that the 2,000 Slave Medallions(with the motto ‘Am I not a man and abrother’) he produced were one of the most

important contributions he had made tosociety. Reluctant to grow old (too much stillto discover), unable to sit still (too much still to do) Josiah remained close to hisbeloved business until the day he died in 1795. His legacy is a potent one; a premiumbrand with recognition the whole world over.

04 05

Slave MedallionPyrometer

Etruria

Josiah Wedgwood Jasper Cameo

06

The Distinguished House of Wedgwood is a testament to the enduring legacy of JosiahWedgwood and his pioneering techniques, which have celebrated the extraordinary skills of English craftsmanship for the past 250 years.

OrnamentingOrnamenting is the process of applyingmoulded relief ornament to the surface of anitem. The ornaments are applied by hand to amoistened surface and affixed with gentlepressure requiring considerable skill.

Large Portland VaseWhite on black Jasper

26cm

Floral Garland BowlCrystal Punch Bowl with

white and black Jasper plinth36cm – Limited edition of 50

IconicCollection

07

Combining Wedgwood’s mosticonic elements; black jasper,engine turning, knurling andornamenting. Distinctive, authenticand unmistakeably Wedgwood.

08 09

Black BasaltTeasetTeapot 1.1ltr

Three Graces Table LampBlack Jasper

69cm – Limited edition of 75

Dancing Hours Bowl White on black Jasper

26cm

Acanthus Bowl Black Jasper

26cm

Gilded Portland VaseBlack Jasper

26cm

IconicCollection

Dancing Hours PlaqueWhite on black Jasper

19 x 34 cm – Limited edition of 200

Flaxman Chess SetWhite on black Jasper,

hand painted and gilded61 x 61cm – Limited edition of 25

Panther Vase White and black JasperLimited edition of 200

10

IconicCollection

11

Engine TurningJosiah Wedgwood introduced engine turningas a technique to the ceramic industry in1763. Engine turning is similar in its action toa standard wood or metal lathe except that ithas an eccentric motion. The engine turninglathe currently in use is little different from theoriginal prototype, preserved in workingorder at Wedgwood, apart from beingpowered by electricity.

Palladian VaseCrystal Vase with black Jasper lid

35cm – Limited edition of 100

Brainstone Vase Black Jasper40 x 34cm

Cupid and Psyche Figurines (Pair)Black and white Jasper25cm – Limited edition of 200

Figurative WorkWedgwood has a strong heritage inproducing figurative ware in Black Basalt andJasper. Frequently these figurative items havehad a classical theme.

IconicCollection

13

Mercury Bust Black Jasper

25cm

1114

Bacchus and Panther PlaqueGilded black Jasper18 x 23cm

Minerva Candlestick White, taupe and

black Jasper35cm

Diana Candlestick White, taupe andblack Jasper35cm

15

ClassicCollection

IconicCollection

First Day’s Vase Saxon blue Jasper hand painted

30cm – Limited edition of 50

Egyptian Pastille BurnerBlack Jasper 21cm – Limited edition of 60

Snake Handled Vase and StandWhite on pale blue Jasper

70cm – Limited edition of 30

ClassicCollection

17

A collection that celebratesWedgwood’s rich, elegant style,inspired from our neo-classical past.Blue jasper, ornamenting and raisedgold are used to create this distinctiveand classic Wedgwood look.

Lady Templetown TeasetSaxon blue, black and white Jasper

Teapot 250ml – Limited edition of 75

First Day’s Vase – Hand Stamped by Lord WedgwoodSaxon blue Jasper hand painted30cm – Limited edition of 6

16

Large Portland VaseWhite on Saxon blue Jasper

with wooden stand50cm – Limited edition of 50

18

ClassicCollection

19

Cupid Mantle ClockWhite on Saxon

blue Jasper25cm – Limited edition of 50

Pâte-sur-pâte

The technique of pâte-sur-pâte is achieved bypainting on Jasper using white slip clay. Layersare built up to form a semi transparent reliefon a coloured background resulting inbeautifully soft images.

Three Graces PlaqueWhite on Saxon blue Jasper

36 x 28cm

Saxon Fluted LampSaxon blue, black and white Jasper

68cm – Limited edition of 150

20

ClassicCollection

Offering to Peace PlaqueWhite on Saxon blue Jasper

25 x 39cm – Limited edition of 200

Powdering

This technique provides a surface texturewhich imitates the powder blue ground ofChinese pottery which was revived byWedgwood in 1810. It is produced by laying aground of solid colour and then stippling itwith a fine grained sponge.

21

Satyr VaseFine bone China33cm – Limited edition of 200

Cameo PlaqueCameos surroundedby black Jasper frame

41 x 36cm – Limited edition of 50

22

ClassicCollection

23

The Lovers’ PlaqueWhite and black Jasper

26 x 26cm – Limited edition of 75

Dancing Hours PlaqueWhite on pale blue Jasper

19 x 34cm – Limited edition of 200

Portland Vase s/sSaxon blue on white Jasper

15cm – Limited edition of 150

Offerings to Apollo GobletWhite black and Saxon blue Jasper

15cm – Limited edition of 150

24

ClassicCollection

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.

Pegasus Diced PlateSaxon blue, turquoise, white and lilac Jasper

23cm – Limited edition of 300

25

Arabesque VaseSaxon blue, turquoise and white Jasper

22cm – Limited edition of 300

Miniature Teapots Set of 3 hand painted black Jasper

9cm – Limited edition of 200

26

DecorativeCollection

Pot Pourri JarHand painted and gilded black Jasper28cm – Limited edition of 50

27

EnamellingThe Wedgwood hand Enamelled product is produced by the application of enamelcolours with a fine brush. The hand enamelleditems for the 250th anniversary collectionrevolve around floral subjects, however ahuge variety of subjects have been painted inthe past.

Wedgwood’s expressive and richarchive is the inspiration for thiscollection. Hand painting, piercing,enamelling and raised gold createintricately fine pieces for a verydecorative Wedgwood.

John Wedgwood Collection –Hand painted Floral

Hand painted Floral Plates set of 425cm – Limited edition of 250

28 29

Gilding

Gilding and raised gold decoration is appliedto many Wedgwood pieces. For raised goldwork the relief decoration is first applied in apaste and fired. The raised pattern is thengilded by hand. This technique was introducedin 1802.

DecorativeCollection

Flower VaseHand paintedFine Bone China43cm

Prunus BowlWhite on Chocolate Jasper

22 x 24cm – Limited edition of 75

Octagon TeasetTurquoise, lilac and white JasperTeapot 350ml

Botanical TeasetHand painted Fine Bone China

Teapot 1.1ltr

30 31

DecorativeCollection

Dynasty Vase 43cmTerracotta on black Jasper

Paradise Garden TeasetFine Bone China

23cm

Acorn VaseLight taupe and

white Jasper22cm

32 33

DecorativeCollection

Famille Rose Plate Black Jasper

20cm – Limited edition of 75

Jasper Turned BowlBlack Jasper

26cm

Golden Bird Footed Bowl22x24cm

34 35

Queen’s Ware

Orange BowlQueen’s Ware20cm

Piercing

Piercing is achieved by cutting out areas to be‘pierced’ with a sharp tool when the mouldedpiece has dried to a ‘leather’ or ‘cheese’hardness. It requires a deft and steady handwhich is also necessary for ‘weaving’ togetherthe strips of clay to construct the Twig Basketand Stand.

Originally known as Cream Ware.In 1766 Queen Charlotte wasdelighted to receive a Cream WareTeaset, following this Josiah wasawarded the honour of “Potter toHer Majesty” and Cream Ware wasrenamed Queen’s Ware.

36

Queen’s Ware

Gilded EpergneEarthenware with gilding

65cm – Limited edition of 25

37

Chatsworth PlaqueFine Bone China27 x 39cm – Limited edition of 200

Syon House PlaqueFine Bone China

27 x 39cm – Limited edition of 200

Oxford PlaqueFine Bone China27 x 39cm – Limited edition of 200

Etruria Hall PlaqueFine Bone China

27 x 39cm – Limited edition of 200

38

Queen’s Ware

39

Empress Collection, Set of 6 PlatesQueen’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, YorkshireEpergne

Queen’s Ware65cm

40

Queen’s Ware Naiads BowlQueen’s Ware

27 x 43cm

Dolphin Candlestick LeftQueen’s Ware24cm

Dolphin Candlestick RightQueen’s Ware

24cm

Twig Fruit BasketQueen’s Ware26cm

Twig Fruit StandQueen’s Ware28cm

WEDGWOOD WWRD United Kingdom Ltd Barlaston Stoke on Trent ST12 9ER EnglandTelephone +44 (0)1782 204141 Fax +44 (0)1782 204402

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