Wedgwood (England)

The Wedgwood story began in 1759 when Josiah Wedgwood established himself as an independent potter in Burslem, Staffordshire. Driven by rigorous material experimentation, he developed several proprietary ceramic bodies that the company continues to produce today. These include the cream-coloured earthenware known as 'Queen’s Ware' (1762), the fine unglazed black stoneware known as 'Black Basalt' (1768), and his most famous invention, the unglazed vitreous stoneware known as 'Jasperware' (1774).

In 1860, following the commercial success of Minton & Co at the 1851 Great Exhibition, Wedgwood expanded its production into majolica ware. The factory's majolica is characterised by vibrantly coloured lead glazes applied over naturalistic, low-relief earthenware shapes. Their most notable outputs from this period feature intricate basketweave and foliage motifs, with the green majolica cabbage leaf designs remaining highly desirable among antique collectors.

As the company entered the mid-20th century, operations underwent a significant logistical transition. In 1940, Wedgwood relocated from its historic Etruria works into a modern, purpose-built factory in the village of Barlaston. This transition resulted in the 'Etruria & Barlaston' backstamp, which was widely used to mark their mid-century output.

During the post-war era, the heritage brand systematically adapted to shifting domestic tastes. While maintaining production of their traditional formal bone china, the company expanded heavily into casual dining. Guided by art directors such as Victor Skellern and modellers like Eric Owen, Wedgwood introduced lines of modern oven-to-table stoneware (like their well-loved 'Pennine' pattern), allowing the historic manufacturer to secure a strong foothold in the modernising 1960s and 1970s homewares market.