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Introduction
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| The Wedgwood Museum contains
the world's greatest collection of Wedgwood ceramics, ranging from a
unique collection of Josiah Wedgwood’s original trials for the
perfection of Queen's Ware, later delivered in the form of a 900+
piece dinner service to Catherine the Great of Russia in 1774, to a
rare 5 foot high Exhibition Vase, decorated by Emile Lessore, the
only one of its kind in Britain.
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Josiah Wedgwood I
(1730-1795) |
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more than 8000 rare ceramic items are held in the Trust by the Wedgwood
Museum Trustees - together with a huge range of historically
important manuscripts and correspondence about social, political and
business life in the 18th and 19th centuries, including letters from
Charles Darwin (Josiah I’s grandson), Coleridge and many others.
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 The
collections also contain an internationally significant fine
art section, including paintings by Stubbs (1724-1806), Sir
Joshua Reynolds P.R.A. and George Romney American artist John Singer
Sergeant, as well as 19th and 20th century watercolour design
sketches by artists such as Lessore, Thomas Allen, Graham Sutherland
and David Shepherd.
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| The Wedgwood Family Portrait
by George
Stubbs (1780) | |
The Museum Galleries are closed to the public at the present time whilst major new galleries, a research area and educational facilities are constructed. This has been made possible through a Heritage Lottery Fund Grant of £5.85m towards the total cost. It is anticipated that the new Museum will reopen on 1st October 2008. The Wedgwood Visitor Centre remains open to the public during this transition period. For more information please contact www.thewedgwoodvisitorcentre.com.
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For further details please see the press release on this website
under 'Breaking News'
Written and verbal enquires: The Wedgwood Museum Office
The Wedgwood Museum Trust Limited
Barlaston
Stoke-on-Trent
Staffordshire
ST12
9ES
Tel: 01782 282818
Fax: 01782 223315
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| | | Special
Exhibition Gallery where
annual displays were held | |
Museum curator, Gaye Blake Roberts said:
"This is one of
the most exciting opportunities the Wedgwood Museum has ever had,
especially as it will provide the opportunity for many more people to view
and utilise the collections than ever before"
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