WEDGWOOD BONE CHINA 7 PIECE VINTAGE DESSERT SET, C. 1910-30

This Vibrant Color Fruit Design Bone China Dessert Set consists of 6 round dessert plates and a square two handled master plate and was made by the famous Wedgwood factories of Etruria, England. The cartouche mark is of the famous Portland Vase, for which Wedgwood is so famous.

The Master Plate measures 10 1/2’’ Length by 9 1/2’’ Width. The 6 Dessert Plates measure 7 1/2’’ Diameter. Judging from the mark, the colors and shape, we estimate it to have been made somewhere between 1910-1930.

This set has a beautiful translucent bone white body upon which the beautiful polychrome hand painting bounces. The elaborately hand painted enameled fruit border consists of grapes, pears, pineapples, plums and other assorted fruit with an intertwining yellow ribbon. The fruit border is framed on either side by interchanging black and white banding which gives the colorful fruit an extra bounce. Such a technique is common for the art deco period in decoration of fine porcelains. The center of each dessert plate and the center of the master plate displays a pannier or basket of fruit and flowers of bright colors.

COMMENT: This is definitely A "Wow" Set that can enhance ones after dinner dessert experience. Definitely appetizing! It also makes wonderful decoration for the china cabinet when not in use. Makes a lovely gift for any occasion!

The decoration is done in Florentine style. The bold, vibrant and bright colors with the combination of black and white are very typical of the art deco period.

SIDE NOTE: Please forgive the distortion and color of the first photo (the complete set) which is 'out of focus.' The china appears to have a yellowish color which is not the case. A better photo will be uploaded at a later date or upon request.

HISTORY OF WEDGWOOD FACTORIES

Josiah Wedgwood began in business on his own in 1759 and was the son of Thomas Wedgwood who was the first father of the Wedgwood Factory which began back in early 1600. Josiah died in 1795 and descendants continued with the business with the same high standards that were competitive with the best factories of Europe. He competed with such great factories as those located at Sèvres, France, and at Meissen, Germany. His quality was so high that he threatened some of these great factories in terms of his quality and production.

Wedgwood built a new factory in Etruria, which began operating in 1769, the same year he formed a partnership with Thomas Bently. Wedgwood's most famous set of Queen's Ware, the 1,000 piece "Frog" service, created for Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, was produced at the Etruria factory in 1774. In 1766 Wedgwood was appointed "Potter to Her Majesty" by Queen Charlotte after which time he named his creamware “Queen’s Ware” in appreciation and honor of her favoritism. By the late 1770’s, the Wedgwood product line included black basalt, creamware, jasperware, pearlware, and redware. Moonlight luster was made from 1805-1815. Bone china was produced from 1812-1822 and was revived in 1878. Fairyland luster was introduced in 1915, but all luster production ended in 1932.

In 1906, a Wedgwood china museum was established at the Etruria pottery. A new factory was built at nearby Barlaston in 1940, and the museum was moved to and expanded at this location. The Etruria works was closed in 1950. During 1960-1970 Wedgwood acquired many English potteries, including William Adams & Sons, Coalport, Susie Cooper, Crown Staffordshire, Johnson Brothers, Mason's Ironstone, J. & G. Meakin, Midwinter Companies, Precision Studios, and Royal Tuscan. Now Wedgwood was known as The Wedgwood Group.

Wedgwood's basalt, a hard, black, stone-like material known also as Egyptian ware or basalt ware, was used for vases, candlesticks, and realistic busts of historical figures. Jasperware was his most successful innovation; it was a durable unglazed ware most characteristically blue with fine white cameo figures inspired by the ancient Roman Portland Vase. Many of the finest designs were the work of the British artist John Flaxman. The most famous artist he employed at Etruria was the sculptor John Flaxman, whose wax portraits and other relief figures he translated into jasperware.

Jasperwares were imitated in biscuit porcelain at Sèvres, and Meissen produced a glazed version which they even called Wedgwoodarbeit.

The factory’s reputation for Jasperware superseded any other factory in England all the way into the Twentieth century. Such factories as Adams and Dudson & Wilcox produced a line of Jasperware that was very attractive and very good quality but could not surmount Wedgwood’s Jasperware.

CONDITION: Excellent! There are no knife or fork scratches, no chips, no cracks, no stains and no restorations.