The Wedgwood Museum

The green glaze was Josiah’s first significant ceramic development, created during his partnership with Thomas Whieldon, during March 1759. Wedgwood continued its manufacture once he was established in his first factory, the Ivy House Works in Burslem.The green colour was derived from copper oxide, which was purchased from the specialist firm of Robinson and Rhodes in Leeds.Wedgwood’s formula for ‘A Green Glaze to be laid on common white biscuit ware’ is number 7 in his Experiment Book entered on 23rd March 1759.The use of naturalistic forms, such as cabbages, melons and cauliflowers, was a direct result of the rococo style prevalent in Britain between 1740 and 1770. The style was particularly popular with both manufacturers and consumers alike. The rococo fruit shapes had already proved very popular when produced in porcelain by Chelsea, Longton Hall in Staffordshire and other factories.The block moulds for these forms were probably supplied by William Greatbatch. Several invoices survive from Greatbatch, in the archive collections, for ‘Colly Flower Ware’ in September 1763.Coffee drinking was popular in Britain and coffee houses soon became a major feature of social life in the capital. Each coffee house attracted different professions. Josiah belonged to Old Slaughter’s Coffee House.

• Type of object: Teaware/coffee pot
• Year first produced: 1759
• Body: Queen's ware and cream-coloured earthenware
• Glaze: Deep-green glaze
• Material: Ceramic
• Decoration: Glazed
• Accession number: WMT-2007-04-1
• Dimensions: 215 mm (height)