Blue-printed botanical plate - 1810
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Blue-printed botanical plate
© Wedgwood Museum
The botanical patterns of the early 19th century were suggested by John Wedgwood, eldest son of Josiah. John was the founder of the Royal Horticultural Society. One of the most original designs was the 'Darwin Water Lily' pattern. Its name derives from the close family associations between the Darwins and Wedgwoods.
Wedgwood’s production of underglaze-blue transfer-printed earthenwares with botanical subjects was undoubtedly inspired by Josiah’s eldest son John who was deeply interested in horticulture as well as botany. At his home Cole House, near Bristol he had successfully cultivated pineapples, acquired for him by his brother Tom whilst visiting the West Indies. In 1801 John had propounded the idea of forming a Horticultural Society to William Forsyth, gardener to King George III. After three years of discussion John issued a pamphlet calling for those interested in the subject to attend, ‘a meeting held at Mr Halchard’s house for the purpose of instituting a Society for the Improvement of Horticulture’. John Wedgwood chaired the inaugural meeting, becoming the society’s first treasurer.It was undoubtedly John’s interest that inspired the range of blue-printed botanical patterns including Hibiscus, Peony and the famous Darwin Water Lily designs, which were introduced into production during the first decade of the 19th century. The prints were adapted from botanical publications including the ‘Botanical Magazine’ and the ‘Botanist’s Repository’.The so-called Darwin Water Lily pattern was first produced in brown and gold which was purchased by Robert Waring Darwin, the husband of Josiah’s eldest child - Susannah Wedgwood, the parents of Charles Darwin, for their home in Shrewsbury. It was subsequently manufactured in underglaze-blue becoming one of the most striking of these printed botanical designs.
- Type of object: Dinner ware/plate
- Mark: WEDGWOOD HH [Impressed]
- Year first produced: 1810
- Body: Queen's ware and cream-coloured earthenware
- Material: Ceramic
- Decoration: Under-glaze blue-painted and printed
- Accession number: WMT-2007-04-2
- Dimensions: 245 mm (diameter), 25 mm (height)
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Related people
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John Wedgwood
Associated
John Wedgwood - Associated
Eldest son of Josiah I and Sarah, John was baptised in Burslem on 28th March 1766. In January 1794 he married Louisa Jane a younger sister of Bessy Allen, who had married his brother Jos two years before. John studied at the Warrington Academy and Edinburgh University, and was also well versed in pottery manufacturing methods. In 1790 he became a partner in the business with his brothers Jos and Tom, but in April 1793 resigned his position. He obtained a partnership in the banking house of Alexander Davison & Co. When his father died in 1795 John moved to Wiltshire where he pursued an interest in botany and horticulture. He was responsible for founding the Society for the Improvement of Horticulture (later the Royal Horticultural Society), and was its first chair at the inaugural meeting which took place at Hatchard’s in March 1804. A new partnership agreement resulted in John taking a more active interest in the firm and he was mainly responsible for the introduction of under-glaze blue-printing – many of the early patterns show distinct botanical influences and include the so-called ‘Darwin Water Lily’ in 1807. In his private life John was extravagant and despite being described by Tom Byerley as ‘extremely active and intelligent’ he was forced to resign his partnership in the firm in December 1811, and became dependent upon trusts set up by the family as he was incapable of managing his financial affairs.
