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  • Porcelain Ceramics: Wedgwood



    Big Name Ceramics: Wedgwood



    One of the largest sub-categories at eBid is our Porcelain, Pottery and Glass categories. Within the Porcelain, Pottery and Glass categories you can drill down into sub categories and found a treasure trove of wonderful items such as Wedgwood. Wedgwood is a fine china, porcelain, and luxury accessories company heralding from the city of Stoke on Trent, in Staffordshire, England. The company was founded 250 years ago in 1759 by Josiah Wedgwood.

    Stoke on Trent: The Potteries


    The six towns that make up Stoke on Trent: Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley, Stoke, Fenton and Longton are known collectively as ‘The Potteries’. The area became synonymous with ceramic production thanks to the natural abundance of clay, salt, lead and coal.

    Wedgwood himself was responsible for the creation of new types of earthenware, like jasperware and basalt, and is regarded as one of the most successful and innovative companies in the area.

    Collecting


    How do you know if you’re paying for a bargain platter or a crummy old teapot?

    1. Spelling
    Beware the spelling mistake! Keep in mind that Wedgwood is spelled without an ‘e’ so any item with the word ‘Wedgwood’ is not true Wedgwood. There is another company that does use the ‘e’ but they are not the ‘real McCoy’.

    2. General ceramic collector advice
    People have all kinds of reasons for buying ceramics. Some folks collect for the aesthetic quality, some for practical reasons, and some canny souls collect with a view to the item going up in value. Whatever your reason for buying, always follow the standard ceramic advice. Keep in mind that any kind of damage or obvious restoration can reduce the value. Also keep in mind that the right item in top condition can command thousands of dollars thanks to the very fragile nature of items in this field.

    3. The Wedgwood mark
    The Wedgwood mark has actually changed a number of times over the years but unless you stumble across an extremely old piece, remember that you need to look for the Wedgwood stamp on the bottom of your piece. Phrases to look out for are: ‘Wedgwood, Made in England’, ‘Wedgwood of Etruria and Barlaston’, and ‘Wedgwood, England’.

    4. Typical designs
    Classic Wedgwood products known and loved around the world are typically pale blue with a raised white image depicting Greek or Roman scenes. These are the pieces to look out for but many other designs are available as well. You could check out the website for more information and details of their archive collection

    Other Names to Watch
    Wedgwood may be one of the most successful ceramics names around, but it’s also worth keeping an eye out for other big names like Royal Doulton, Crown Staffordshire, Minton, and Spode too.

    Summary


    The Potteries is such an outstanding location for ceramics production and is know so well around the world, that there is a museum dedicated to its history. Along with the numerous factory tours available throughout the towns, the area also welcomes thousands of Chinese and Japanese tourists every year.

    So, when it comes to spotting ceramic items to buy, you could do worse than invest in examples from the Potteries. Above all else, there are some beautiful examples out there, and you will also be buying into a little bit of English history.

    US Porcelain, Pottery and Glass categories:
    UK Porcelain, Pottery and Glass categories:
    Comments 3 Comments
    1. cornishmaid1961's Avatar
      cornishmaid1961 -
      Why is there a spelling mistake in the title of this article and thread ? It clearly states in the article itself :-

      1. Spelling
      Beware the spelling mistake! Keep in mind that Wedgwood is spelled without an ‘e’ so any item with the word ‘Wedgewood’ is not true Wedgwood. There is another company that does use the ‘e’ but they are not the ‘real McCoy’.
    1. astral276's Avatar
      astral276 -
      Quote Originally Posted by cornishmaid1961 View Post
      Why is there a spelling mistake in the title of this article and thread ? It clearly states in the article itself :-

      1. Spelling
      Beware the spelling mistake! Keep in mind that Wedgwood is spelled without an ‘e’ so any item with the word ‘Wedgewood’ is not true Wedgwood. There is another company that does use the ‘e’ but they are not the ‘real McCoy’.
      So it should be 'Wdgwood' if it "is spelled without an 'e'".
    1. cornishmaid1961's Avatar
      cornishmaid1961 -
      Quote Originally Posted by astral276 View Post
      So it should be 'Wdgwood' if it "is spelled without an 'e'".
      Chortle, snigger, guffaw.

      I thought McCoy was an American Pottery too and not in the Wedgwood group !
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