Master potter. Born in Burslem, Stoke, Staffordshire, into a potters family. Married his cousin, Sally. Childhood smallpox left him with a limp. His inability to operate the potters wheel meant he turned to design and management instead. It is said he often used his stick to smash items that he felt were not good enough. Contacted the Cherokees Indians to find a source of the whitest possible clay. His London showrooms became a fashionable place to visit. Flaxman, Stubbs and Lady Diana Beauclerk all provided designs for him. Promoter of social reform and active in the fight against the slave trade. Wedgwood is nowadays compared with Henry Ford for his innovative introduction of methods of mass production.
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Josiah Wedgwood
Commemorated atInformation
Spirit of Soho Mural
Interesting that Coca Cola are specifically mentioned on the panel but not as...
Other Subjects
William Morris (designer)
Designer, author and visionary socialist. Born Elm House, Walthamstow, Essex. The family moved to Woodford Hall in 1840 and to Water House in 1848. He moved in with his friend Edward Burne-Jones f...
Person, Art, Craft / Design, Literature, Seriously Famous, Iceland / Faroe Islands
Silver Studio
Influential textile design studio. Founded by Arthur Silver it was taken over by his son Rex who ran it until 1963. Renowned for its art nouveau designs it supplied major outlets such as Liberty's ...
Eric Gill
Sculptor. Born Brighton. One of thirteen children of a clergyman, he remained religious all his life. Passionate believer in the "carving direct" method. His sculptures would sometimes depict contr...