Author and Wedgwood expert Maureen Batkin takes you through the history and products of the famous British ceramics manufacturer in this 244 page book Wedgwood Ceramics 1846-1959. You'll learn the history of Josiah Wedgwood, born in Burslem, Stoke in the Staffordshire region of England to Thomas Wedgwood, a potter and the father of 13 children. In fact, his grandfather and great-grandfather had also been potters, while his mother ensured he received an education and went to school every day a full 8 miles away from their home. His father died in 1739 when he was only 9 years old, and young Josiah served as a potter's apprentice to his older brother in order to learn the craft. He got smallpocks at the age of 11, leaving him with a severely disfigured right leg which later had to be amputated. He was more interested in the science of making fine ceramics more so than the industrial production which he found repetitive and less challenging than the associated science and business aspects. He partnered with the leading potter of the time, Thomas Whieldon, in 1754 to establish their own operation in Burslem. He experimented with glazes and clays while at the same time learning how to run and grow a business as a new entrepreneur. His first big success was "creamware", patented in 1763, which was a particular favorite of the English Queen Charlotte. Using this as leverage, Wedgwood asked the Queen to permit him to call this type of ceramic "Queensware", which she granted and he subsequently marketed to profitable effect. Josiah Wedgwood focused on the technology and science, inventing the techniques to make Basaltware and Jasperware. Black Basalt was first created in 1768 and named after the Egyptian rock, but it was Jasperware which proved to be their biggest success. He had been working to create Jasperware since the early 1760s, but it required clay from teh Americas which became expensive and hard to obtain. Finally, using Barium Sulphate which he could obtain locally, Wedgwood at long last produced his Jasperware, a dense white stoneware which could be easily tinted. Jasperware continues to be the most recognizable of the Wedgwood wares, and blue remains the most popular color today just as it was when Jasperware was first introduced. Illustrated with many full color photographs, this Wedgwood reference book is generally the standard against which other publications are measured by professional antiques and collectibles dealers.

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Wedgwood Ceramics 1846-1959