Arguably the most celebrated of all English ceramics makers, Wedgwood was founded in 1759 by potter Josiah Wedgwood in Staffordshire, which was home at one time to hundreds of pottery workshops.
Wedgwood is famed for its Jasperware — molded neoclassical stoneware vases, plates and other pieces inspired by ancient cameo glass, featuring white figures, scenes and decorative elements set in relief on a matte-colored background. The best-known background hue is light blue, but Wedgwood’s iconic silhouettes also appear on green, lilac, yellow, black and even white grounds. Some antique Wedgwood dinnerware pieces and other items feature three or more colors. The company is also known for its black stoneware, Black Basalt, which imitates the color and shapes of Etruscan vases.
The Wedgwood firm first came to prominence for its tableware, which quickly gained favor in aristocratic households throughout Britain and Europe. In 1765, Wedgwood was commissioned to create a cream-colored earthenware service for Queen Charlotte, consort of King George III. The queen was so thrilled with her new china that Wedgwood was given permission to call himself “Potter to Her Majesty,” and the decorative style became known as Queen’s Ware.
Not to be outdone, Catherine the Great of Russia commissioned her own set of Wedgwood china in 1773. Nearly 200 years later, the firm created a 1,200-piece service for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. In recent years, leading designers including Jasper Conran and Vera Wang have collaborated with Wedgwood — in the tradition of such distinguished 18th-century artists such as the painter George Stubbs and metalsmith Matthew Boulton.
From plates and other dinnerware to decorative items like urns, cachepots and candlesticks, Wedgwood designs lend a traditional air to Anglophile interiors. And even if you have to make your own tea, you may find it comforting to sip it from a delicate cup that was manufactured in the same Stoke-on-Trent kiln that produced Her Majesty’s tea service. Be sure to keep your pinky raised.
Find antique Josiah Wedgwood pottery, dinner plates, serving pieces and other furnishings and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
Wedgwood Majolica Covered Cow Butter Server – date marked 1875
By Josiah Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Wedgwood, a rustic covered butter server with a cow finial, Staffordshire England – date marked 1875. An extremely rare example of 19th Century Agrarian Nostalgia. Glazed in m...
Earthenware
Josiah Wedgwood Pembroke Castle Platter, Staffordshire, Circa 1820
By Josiah Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Wedgwood, a ‘Pembroke Castle’ pattern transferware platter, Burslem, Staffordshire, circa 1820-1840. An earthenware body showing a central image of sailors rowing to and from a...
Earthenware
Josiah Wedgwood Majolica Multi-Color Leaf on Basket Handled Server
By Josiah Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A majolica multi-colored glazed fringed leaf on basket weave handled server, Josiah Wedgwood, Burslem, England – circa 1870. A leaf shaped molded shallow bowl with a pierced twig ha...
Earthenware
Wedgwood Majolica Large Tortoiseshell Shell Shaped Server Majolica Serving Tray
By Josiah Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Wedgwood, an English majolica scallop shell shaped seafood serving dish, date marked 1889. Showing the mottled tortoiseshell glazing of greens, amber, and brown. The mold refl...
Earthenware
Josiah Wedgwood Majolica Multi-Color Leaf on Basket Handled Server
By Josiah Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A majolica multi-colored glazed fringed leaf on basket weave handled server, Josiah Wedgwood, Burslem, England – circa 1870. A leaf shaped molded shallow bowl with a pierced twig ha...
Earthenware
Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Majolica Seal Handled Ice-Cream Tray
By Josiah Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Majolica green glazed- Seal-Molded Ice-Cream Tray, England – Date code EGH for 1878 A very scarce rectangular tray with the cente...
Earthenware
$765Sale Price|21% Off
Antique English Early "Wedgwood" Creamware ‘Earthenware’ Hand Painted Platter
By Josiah Wedgwood
Located in CHARLESTON, SC
Rare antique English "Wedgwood" creamware (earthenware) hand painted platter with rare early impressed "WEDGWOOD" mark. Superb condition but for...
Creamware
Wedgwood Armorial Creamware Platter
Located in Essex, MA
Oval with decorated border and armorial crest. Marked Wedgwood. With Moulton Family crest.
Pottery
Pair of 19th Century Wedgwood Pearlware Platters
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A rare pair of early 19th century Wedgwood pearlware platters made in England circa 1820. These splendid platters feature a rich lustrous c...
Earthenware
$2,572
H 4.93 in W 7.09 in D 7.09 in
19th Century Victorian Sterling Silver Butter Dish with Cow Finial
By Edward Charles Brown 1
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1867 by Edward Charles Brown, this charming, Victorian, Antique, Sterling Silver Butter Dish, features engr...
Sterling Silver
English c. 1900-1910 Wedgwood Blue Willow Pattern Platter
By Wedgewood
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1900-1910 Wedgwood Blue Willow pattern platter, England. Deep blue color and precisely applied transfer. Blue backstamp: Wedgwood & Co, Ltd,...
Ceramic
$964
H 1.58 in W 23.23 in D 19.3 in
Dior Rectangular Tortoiseshell Effect Lucite Serving Tray, Italy 1970s
By Dior Home
Located in Roma, IT
Marvelous Mid-Century serving tray fully made of vibrant tortoiseshell Lucite with a chrome frame. This incredibly elegant piece was designed by Dior Home and produced in Italy durin...
Chrome
Wedgwood Leaf Dish, circa 1935
By Wedgewood
Located in High Point, NC
Wedgwood green majolica tray in the form of a leaf and basket design with a handle. Impressed mark on the back.
Pottery
$899
H 8 in W 13.5 in D 10.5 in
Antique Barker-Ellis Silver Plated Covered Entree Server with Floral Decoration
By Barker Ellis Silver Co.
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique silver plated covered server was made by the well known Barker Ellis Silver Company of England in approximately 1912 and done in a Victorian style. This entree server...
Silver Plate
Antique Staffordshire Platter With Temple Warriors
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Antique platter having brown transfer Temple Warriors scene depicting native figures with temple-like buildings, a warrior on horseback to the right. The platter featuring India imag...
Ceramic, Ironstone
Small English Green Majolica Leaf Handled Dish circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
Small English Green Majolica Leaf Handled Dish circa 1890
Ceramic
$556Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.5 in W 18 in D 14 in
19th Century Staffordshire Blue Willow Serving Platter
By Staffordshire
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This 19th century large blue willow serving platter is signed Staffordshire, England. The condition is in mint condition.
Porcelain
$1,127Sale Price|20% Off
H 5.12 in Dm 11.82 in
French Vallauris Majolica Ceramic Cheese Serving Tray, 1950s
By Vallauris
Located in Barcelona, ES
Cool round shaped woven motif ceramic platter for cheese of desserts, France, 1950s. This beautiful platter features a circular base with woven pattern. A handle at the central part ...
Bamboo, Ceramic, Pottery, Majolica
$822
H 12.8 in W 16.74 in D 1.19 in
Midcentury Tortoiseshell Plexiglass Italian Serving Tray after Willy Rizzo 1970s
By Willy Rizzo, Christian Dior
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful midcentury piece of serveware, produced in Italy during the 1970s. It is a rectangular design attributed to Willy Rizzo for a Christian Dior production. It is iconic tor...
Metal
Wedgwood Majolica Aesthetic Movement Star Platter, date marked 1882
By Josiah Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Wedgwood, a very scarce English majolica glazed oval platter or tray, date marked 1882. In the Aesthetic Movement taste, a large six-sided star is centered on a complex, geome...
Earthenware
19th C. Wedgwood Reticulated Basket Weave Oval Majolica Serving Tray
By Josiah Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An English majolica oval serving platter from Josiah Wedgwood, date marked R for the year 1889. The server is edged with a delicate yellow ochre reticulated rim that imitates the ba...
Earthenware
Sold
H 2 in W 20.75 in D 16 in
Rare & Fine Antique English 18th C. Wedgwood Creamware 7 Pc. Armorial Set
By Josiah Wedgwood
Located in CHARLESTON, SC
Exceptionally rare & important fine antique English wedgwood "Queensware" (also known as creamware earthenware) Seven-piece dinner set consisting of a very large 20.75" wide Platter ...
Creamware
Josiah Wedgwood Majolica Ocean Waves Sardine Box, circa 1879
By Josiah Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A Josiah Wedgwood majolica lidded sardine server, in the pattern known as ‘Ocean’ – date marked 1879. Formed as a cobalt blue, rope tied wooden crate floating in the ocean waves. ...
Earthenware
Sold
H 2 in W 8.5 in D 11.75 in
Josiah Wedgwood English Majolica Grape Vine & Wicker Handled Serving Tray
By Josiah Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A 19th century majolica glazed serving tray, Josiah Wedgwood, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. A grape leaf on wicker pattern with two end handles formed as grape vines. With a c...
Earthenware
Sold
H 2.5 in W 15.75 in D 19 in
Wedgwood Aesthetic Movement Staffordshire Well and Tree Platter, 'Chrysanthemum'
By Josiah Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An oversized Aesthetic Movement well and tree platter, Wedgwood, Burslem, Staffordshire, England, circa 1886. A well-and-tree platter has a d...
Earthenware
19th Century Wedgewood Oval Ceramic Charger
By Josiah Wedgwood
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th century Wedgewood oval ceramic charger enameled with clematis flowers and wild roses. Stamped: Wedgewood (English pottery firm founded in 1759 by Josiah Wedgewood).
Ceramic