This richly illustrated volume presents the history of Wedgwood, one of Britain's most celebrated ceramic manufacturers. The book follows the development of the Wedgwood pottery from its origins in the 1750s through the establishment of the Etruria Works and the international success of the company during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Individual chapters discuss Josiah Wedgwood's technical innovations, the famous ceramic bodies including creamware, jasperware and black basalt, collaborations with leading designers, the expansion of production, Victorian developments and twentieth-century manufacturing. A substantial section is devoted to recognising authentic Wedgwood pieces through factory marks, shapes, glazes and decorative techniques. The numerous colour photographs illustrate tableware, ornamental wares, portrait medallions, vases, plaques and limited editions, making the volume an excellent introduction as well as a useful identification guide for collectors. (AI-gegenereerde inhoudsbeschrijving)