The Wedgwood Museum

Elwyn James - Maker

Elwyn James was born and educated in North Wales and after gaining his National Diploma in design became a studio potter at Wedgwood in 1966. Elwyn was a talented potter with an eye for new and impressive shapes when throwing on the wheel.Sir Arthur Bryan, Chairman, and Peter Williams Deputy Chairman, first met Elwyn at Harlech when he was a student and was already showing a considerable talent in ceramics. When he was employed by Sir Arthur he had already formulated his own distinctive style and in the following years was to become a great ambassador for Wedgwood. On one trip he travelled around Canada and America covering over 15,000 miles. Elwyn was to say of the trip “There was an encouraging response by all the cities I visited and an apparently greater interest in Wedgwood after the promotions”Elwyn’s speciality was to produce individual specimens - all hand thrown, turned, and decorated in a variety of ways including unusual glaze finishes, sgraffito work, and pierced wares.Regrettably, Elwyn James died suddenly in his sleep in November 1979 whilst still employed by Josiah Wedgwood & Sons.