Teapot 1750 - 1760

This delightful teapot was made in Staffordshire, England, between 1754 and 1759, by the Wedgwood-Whieldon partnership. It's earthenware, but not the kind you're probably thinking of. This is lead-glazed earthenware, which gives it a beautiful, mottled surface. Now, Josiah Wedgwood was a real innovator. He wasn't just making pots; he was figuring out how to make them at scale, using molds and clever division of labor. This teapot, with its molded floral decorations, shows that system in action. It's not the work of a single artist, but a team, each member contributing to the final product. But look closely. Despite the industrial approach, there's still a hand-made quality, a slight irregularity in the glaze, a gentle asymmetry. It's a reminder that even in the age of factories, the human touch remained. So, next time you see a piece of pottery, remember it's not just about the form or the decoration. It's also about the people who made it, the processes they used, and the world they lived in.