Button with Signs of the Zodiac c. late 18th century

Editor: Here we have a ceramic button, crafted around the late 18th century by the Wedgwood Manufactory. The blue background with the white zodiac symbols feels so delicate, like something out of a fairytale. How do you approach a piece like this, focusing on its materials and production? Curator: For me, this button offers a window into the labor and materials of the Wedgwood factory. Jasperware, with its distinctive matte finish, wasn't easily achieved. How did the chemical composition of the clay affect the firing process, and consequently, the color and durability of this button? Editor: That’s interesting! I hadn’t thought about the technical aspects so much. So the process influenced the piece beyond just its aesthetics? Curator: Precisely. Consider the division of labor within the factory. Who designed the zodiac imagery, and who was responsible for the painstaking task of applying these delicate sprigged reliefs? Was this 'high art' design work, or simply industrial production? Also, think about where the raw materials originated. Did colonial exploitation play a role in providing the clay or pigments? Editor: Wow, that definitely makes me see the button differently. It’s not just a decorative item anymore, but something that represents a whole system of production. Curator: Indeed. The mass production of decorative arts like these also shifted consumption patterns. How accessible would this button have been? What kind of statement was it making on someone’s garment? Was it a signifier of status or perhaps even personal identity related to astrology? Editor: I guess it tells a much bigger story than its small size suggests. I will never look at ceramics the same way again! Curator: Exactly! By examining the materiality and means of production, we uncover the complex social and economic context that shaped this object.