For almost 250 years, the Wedgwood name has been synonymous with timeless beauty, exquisite craftsmanship, superior quality and innovation.

The company was founded by Josiah Wedgwood (1730 – 1795), a visionary and inventor who later became known as the ‘Father of English Potters’.  Born in Burslem, Staffordshire, in the heart of the English potteries, Josiah served his apprenticeship as a potter before setting up his own business in 1759.  By 1766, Josiah had prospered sufficiently to build a factory which he named Etruria.

Josiah’s innovative spirit led him to pioneer what remains today as three of Wedgwood’s most famous ceramic bodies. As well as developing ornamental wares such as Black Basalt (1768) and Jasper (1774) with which the company is still renowned, in 1762 Josiah first perfected the company’s famous cream-coloured earthenware.

So impressed was Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III, that in 1776 she consented to it being renamed “Queen’s Ware”, and allowed Josiah to wittingly appoint himself as “Potter to Her Majesty”. This inexpensive earthenware soon put fine, beautiful tableware within the reach of the masses.

Jasper, Josiah Wedgwood’s most famous ceramic body, was not perfected until 1774 after thousands of recorded experiments. This was prized by Josiah above all his productions and today remains the most highly valued and sought after ceramic body in the world. Josiah’s crowing achievement in Jasperware was the first replica of the Barberini or Portland Vase – the first being reproduced in 1789. Jasper has been made continuously by Wedgwood from the 18th century to the present day and the method of manufacture still remains the same.

In the nineteenth century, important progress was made at the Wedgwood factory in the use of new machinery, the introduction of the first coloured earthenware bodies and, most importantly, the manufacture of bone china. Wedgwood bone china tableware was to grace the tables of many illustrious homes throughout the world, including the dinner service which President Theodore Roosevelt ordered for the White House.

During the 1930’s, when many English potteries were forced to close down due to unfavourable conditions, Wedgwood’s success continued and in order to increase efficiency, the fifth Josiah Wedgwood decided to build a new factory. A country estate near the village of Barlaston was purchased and a new, modern factory was built. Production started in the 1940’s and since then, the factory has expanded to four times its original size. It is the British pottery industry’s most up-to-date factory. Here, Wedgwood continues its living tradition of progress in design, in production methods and in the skills of its many craftspeople. Each piece of Wedgwood reveals a continuing dedication to Josiah Wedgwood’s creative legacy and pursuit for perfection.

Today, Wedgwood continues to be recognised throughout the world for its supreme quality and its rich heritage. The company is fast extending into new product areas and in recent years has established exciting design collaborations with leading international fashion designers, including Jasper Conran and Vera Wang, enabling Wedgwood to develop stylish new tableware and interior collections that meet contemporary lifestyle needs.