Teapot c. 1790

This teapot was made by the Wedgwood manufactory, a British pottery firm founded in 1759. It is an example of Jasperware, developed in the 1770s, and typically decorated with Neoclassical motifs in white relief. The imagery decorating this teapot is taken from ancient Greek and Roman art, reflecting the 18th-century enthusiasm for the art of antiquity. Notice how the motifs are specifically chosen to project an image of refinement, and how the pastel colors would have been considered elegant at the time. Wedgwood was one of the first to mass produce luxury goods. This teapot exemplifies how the company capitalized on archaeological discoveries and scholarly interest to create aspirational objects for a growing middle class. Studying the Wedgwood company archive gives us a view into the social and economic history of the period, showing us how art and commerce intersected in Georgian England.