Photography by Kathy McGuinness Designs
Wedgwood International Seminar
Charlotte, North Carolina
April 22 - 25, 2020
This year's Wedgwood International Seminar in Charlotte, North Carolina promises to be an exceptional event for all Wedgwood and fine arts collectors. The seminar will be held April 22-25 with accommodations at the Embassy Suites by Hilton. Along with lectures from noted Wedgwood experts and researchers there will opportunities to enjoy the Mint Museum basalt exhibit, Biltmore estate and other local sights. Visit the Wedgwood International Seminar web site for more information and to see photos from last year's seminar. Registration cut off date is March 23
The Enchanted World of Fairyland Lustre September 20, 2019 to January 20, 2020
If you are traveling to Florida for the holidays or warm weather the Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts (WMODA) has a wonderful collection of Wedgwood Fairyland Lustre on permanent display. Currently the WMODA has an exhibition of Fairyland bowls from their reserve collection on display until January 10, 2020.
The WMODA also has a selection of Fairyland Lustre in their Fantastique exhibition with a video featuring the dark side of Daisy Makeig Jones. Executive Director & Curator Louise Irvine has generously provided the WSWDC a paper she authored when the Wedgwood International Seminar visited Miami which gives an idea of the scope of the Wedgwood collection at WMODA.
All photographs are courtesy of Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts
WMODA - Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts
481 South Federal Highway
Dania Beach, FL 33004
Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm
$10 Adults, $8 Seniors
Triangular salad plate from the "Frog" service
produced for Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia
Queensware Orange Bowl - photograph courtesy of Wikipedia
Josiah Wedgwood's accomplishments continues to amaze our modern society. Not just by inventing the china and stoneware products that bears his name, but his ability to analyze his customers and their desire to set themselves apart from their fellow man. These observations encouraged him to wisely bestow "as much pains and expense" on gaining "royal or noble" approval for his products as on the products themselves. Tim Harford explains more on Josiah Wedgwood and the "Coase conjecture".
Josiah Wedgwood’s Portland Vase:
The Pinnacle of Classical Perfection
Over 250 years have passed since Josiah Wedgwood created his masterpiece work. The Barberini Vase is the result of four years’ meticulous work to perfect the manufacturing process of jasperware, a stoneware of his own innovation. Wedgwood Museum archivist Lucy Lead was interviewed for this article that celebrates the genius of the Father of English Potters.
The original Portland Vase by Josiah Wedgwood. Jasperware (WWRD/Wedgwood Museum)
Artists, Workers and Tastemakers: Wedgwood and Women
WSWDC Newsletter Editor Sophie Guiny has authored "Artists, Workers and Tastemakers: Wedgwood and Women" on the All Things Georgian blog. It is a fascinating and well researched article and features pieces from her personal collection. The full article can be read here.
As the Wedgwood Society of Washington D.C.'s Newsletter Editor, Ms. Guiny produces similar scholarly articles for the WSWDC's Capital Wedgwoodian newsletter. If you are not yet a WSWDC member please visit our Membership page and join us today.
Wedgwood jasperware covered sugar bowl with The Reading Lesson, a design attributed to Emma Crewe. Sophie Guiny’s personal collection
Wedgwood jasperware portrait medallion depicting Josiah Wedgwood. Sophie Guiny’s personal collection