Josiah Wedgwood and His Pottery

Photo of vases from Josiah Wedgwood and His Pottery
Adoption Amount: $1,050
Category: Preserve for the Future
Location: National Museum of American History Library

Josiah Wedgwood and his pottery

By William Burton. London, New York: Cassell and Company, ltd., 1922.

This volume includes biographical information on Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795) as well as a history of the Wedgwood Pottery and its wares. Wedgwood started producing pottery in about 1759 and is credited with the industrialization of pottery manufacturing. His unique glazes, including the classic jasper, distinguished his pottery from others of the period. Wedgwood pottery became popular not only in England but throughout Europe and America. The author of this volume worked as a chemist at Wedgwood for five years and his passion for the company and its pottery comes through in his writing. Publication of this book was limited to 1,500 copies; our copy is no. 1,146. It includes 32 beautiful color plates and 72 black-and-white plates of Wedgwood pieces. Interesting personal notes—Josiah Wedgwood was a strong abolitionist and the maternal grandfather of Charles Darwin.

Condition and Treatment: 

This book is covered in early-20th century cloth publishers' binding. The case is detached and the spine lining separating from the binding. Several sections in the textblock are detached.  Conservators will reattach the loose sections and consolidate the spine. New endpapers will be attached and the case repaired. The textblock will then be recased in the original binding. A double tray box will be created to house this limited edition volume.

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