Josiah Wedgwood (1730–95), came from an established family of potters and trained with his elder brother. He was in partnership with the leading potter Thomas Whieldon from 1754 until 1759 when a new green ceramic glaze he had developed encouraged him to start a new business on his own. Relatives leased him the Ivy House in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, and his marriage to Sarah Wedgwood, a distant cousin with a sizeable dowry, helped him launch his new venture. After an extensive and systematic program of experiment Wedgwood in 1765 created a new variety of creamware, a fine glazed earthenware, which was the main body used for his table wares thereafter. After he supplied Queen Charlotte with a tea set for twelve the same year, she gave official permission to call it "Queen's Ware" (from 1767). This new form, perfected as white pearlware (from 1780), sold extremely well across Europe, and to America. It had the additional advantage of being relatively light, saving on transport costs and import tariffs in foreign markets. Wedgwood developed several further industrial innovations for his company, notably a way of measuring kiln temperatures accurately, and several new ceramic bodies including the "dry-body" Stoneware, "black basalt" (by 1769), cane ware, and jasperware (the 1770s), all designed to be sold unglazed, like "biscuit porcelain". In the later 19th century the company returned to being a leader in the design and technical innovation, as well as continuing to make many of the older styles. Despite increasing local competition in its export markets, the business continued to flourish in the 19th and early 20th centuries, remaining in the hands of the Wedgwood family, but after World War II it began to contract, along with the rest of the English pottery industry. After buying several other Staffordshire ceramics companies, in 1987 Wedgwood merged with Waterford Crystal to create Waterford Wedgwood plc, an Ireland-based luxury brands group. After a 2009 purchase by KPS Capital Partners, a New York-based private equity firm. Wedgwood has always been associated with fine china, porcelain, and luxury accessories, the entrepreneur Josiah Wedgwood rapidly became successful and was soon one of the largest manufacturers of Staffordshire pottery. Wedgwood is a significant pottery manufacturer as the company is especially associated with the "dry-bodied" (unglazed) stoneware Jasperware in contrasting colours, and in particular that in "Wedgwood blue" and white that has become a trademark. Teapot and lid, Wedgwood blue Jasperware with white patternImpressed name Wedgewood and date letter "S" = 1890flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, teapot, wedgewood blue, wedgewood teapot, tea pot, kitchen ware, josiah wedgwood, staffordshire potteries

6th May 2009 A large earthenware figure of a spaniel made in the 19th century in Staffordshire and used as a fireside ornament. Also referred to as Staffordshire dogs. They were purchased by errant husbands to comfort irate wives.|Stoke, Burslem, Hanley, Longton and Tunstall were known as the “Five Towns” of the Staffordshire potteries. In the 19th century there were more than 1000 firms working at various times, amongst them Wedgwood, Spode and Ridgway. Largely because of Josiah Wedgwood and the canal system, and later the railways English ceramics spread far and wide. A vast export trade to the Americas and India was from the port of Liverpool. Staffordshire became the pottery supplier of the World. Most factories made figures and tea and dinner sets.|The Comforter Dogs were copied and made by more than one pottery.Staffordshire dog - no makers mark. Right foot cracked. Repair on ear. Some cracks on body.ceramics, porcelain, ornaments

This bowl was used in the home of Mrs. Laura Sommer nee Costa grandmother of one of the life members of Wodonga & District Historical Society who donated this item to our collection. It is representative of decorative household items in the early to mid 20th century.This item is an outstanding example of popular decorative household items from the 19th and early 20th century.A large ceramic decorative bowl featuring rural images. The primary colours of the bowl is a deep blue with gilt edges and markings. It features 2 rural scenes showing men with horses and a cart. The top edge is slightly contoured. There is a maker's mark underneath the bowl.Maker's map on base: A small flower within and larger flower shape with "MADE IN ENGLAND" written around it.decorative bowls, domestic items, ceramics, english ceramics and porcelain