Wedgewood, Josiah

Josiah (1730-1795), a celebrated English potter. He was the son of a Staffordshire potter and learned his father's business. An incurable lameness forced him to give up standing at the potter's wheel. He turned his attention to decorating. He discovered a method of mixing and baking that resulted in the production of a stoneware so fine in texture and so hard that exquisite works of art could be reproduced on its surface. He made not only white and semi-transparent stoneware, but queen's-ware in cream colors; basalt ware of Egyptian black, suitable for plaques, seals, busts, and medallions; red ware, and mottled ware. One of his specialties was a jasper ware resembling white terra cotta. Cobalt blue, lilac, greens, and yellows were favorite colors. Wedgewood ware was famous for its decorations, both raised and depressed, that is, cameos and intaglios. One of his Portland vases was valued at $250, and was a present fit for a duchess. When wealth and fame came to Wedgewood, he founded the village of Etruria for his workmen and aimed to educate their children to thrift and in designing, decorating, and other principles of the potter's art. See Pottery