Wedgwood has been an international company for over two centuries. Founded in 1759 upon the highest standards to uphold these essential factors in maintaining its leading position throughout the markets of the world.

The founder, Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795), who is remembered as ‘the Father of English Potters’, was born in Burslem, Staffordshire, in the heart of the English potteries. He served his apprenticeship as a potter before setting up his own business in 1759.

By 1766 he had prospered sufficiently to build a new factory, which he named Etruria. Josiah was to sow the first seeds of the innovative spirit, which continues to be an integral part of Wedgwood. During his lifetime he invented and produced what remain today three of Wedgwood’s most famous ceramic bodies - Queen’s Ware (1762), Black Basalt (1768) and finally Jasper (1774).

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, 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 has continued at the site ever since. Here, Wedgwood continues its living tradition of progress in design, in production methods and in the skills of its many craftspeople. In 2000, a modern visitor centre was added to the complex to cater for the huge interest Wedgwood.

Wedgwood the Brand Story
Josiah would no doubt be thrilled by every single one of Wedgwood's achievements. For two and a half centuries strong our company has grown and our product range has blossomed all under his enduring ethos. Wedgwood now employs more than 2,000 people, distributes to 90 countries in the UK, North America, Western Europe and Japan, all the while holding high a reputation as purveyors of luxury goods.

Open For Business
After a short partnership with Thomas Whieldon, Josiah opened for business at Ivy House in 1759, a humble start to 250 years of ceramic innovation and pioneering spirit. It was there that he developed the wildly popular cream-coloured earthenware that became known as Queen's Ware, in honour of its patron Queen Charlotte. This marked the beginning of Wedgwood's ongoing relationship with many illustrious patrons. Indeed Wedgwood has been laid on many a grand table; the Empress Catherine of Russia, President Theodore Roosevelt and Queen Elizabeth II.

Josiah quickly moved into larger premises in 1764, and in 1769 (the same year that he made a business partner of Thomas Bentley) moved into the newly built Etruria works. This became home to Wedgwood for the next 180 years. And it was here at Etruria that he enjoyed his great creative triumphs, Black Basalt, Jasper, the Portland Vase. His maverick business and marketing genius coupled with his finely tuned aesthetic values sealed the company's success. Josiah courted patrons and understood fashion and his ceramics became almost ridiculously popular - there was even reported "...a violent vase madness breaking out among the Irish".

Onwards and Upwards
After Josiah's death in 1795, the Wedgwood factory continued to pioneer feats of ceramic innovation. Highlights included the introduction of bone china, Daisy Makeig-Jones' Fairyland Lustre, the sculptural ceramics of John Skeaping and the marvellous illustrations of Eric Ravilious. Towards the end of the 1930's though, Wedgwood had outgrown the Etruria factory. They resettled in 1938, making a home at the new Barlaston factory just south of Stoke-on-Trent where Josiah V laid the foundation stone.

By 1950 Wedgwood was fully operational in a state of the art factory, firmly set on a clear path of growth. And grow we did. In the decades that followed, Wedgwood spread across international markets, particularly in America and Japan, acquiring other great pottery brands along the way. Then in 1986, the Wedgwood group merged with Waterford Crystal to form the Waterford Wedgwood group, now one of the great families of international premium interiors brands in the world.

A Thoroughly Modern Brand
Today, as well as being able to draw from our enviable treasure -trove of pattern and design archives, our collaboration with international designers has expanded our design credentials even further. Vera Wang, Jasper Conran, Barbara Barry and Martha Stewart have all been fitting partners for us.

We are grateful for such a heritage, lucky to have so much to be inspired by in fact. But we have much to look forward to as well. Everything we do will continue to be approached with the same enthusiasm and high standards as our ingenious founder.