European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 16, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Josiah Wedgwood he mugged the population and they loved him for it Kin Cruger Bureau chief when Josiah Wedgwood was born in in one of the potteries towns in people still ate off wooden or if they were off Pewter or the age of attractive table and Kitchen crockery that the father of English potters was to usher in Lay in the credit is due to who had Only four years of schooling and was the youngest of 12 More than any other person that we eat our meals off crockery and that pottery of a Quality which 200 years ago Only the Rich could afford is today available to a mass at the time Wedgwood arrived on the the areas roads were strewn with potholes where local potters had dug out their Clay and few potters could afford to employ More than 10 men the Wedgwood group today employs the potters products were sturdy and crude Reddis Brown jugs and insomnia contributed greatly to Wedgwood Success for while others slept Wedgwood conducted painstaking experiments in order to come up with new his first big Success was his Cream made from Clay imported from England West which was whiter than the local Queen Charlotte ordered a service from him with the Seal of Royal approval upon it was extremely it is still being made Success brought Wedgwood into Contact with aristocratic circles and in the architects and led by the influential Robert were bringing the classical style into Wedgwood hopped aboard this fashion for a Good Long ride and in 1768 he produced his Superb Black Basalt Ware also still being produced for classical cameos and Wedgwood built a new factory and nearby Homes for his the factory brought specialization into the which made modern mass production possible and which also introduced a far More regimented pattern of life and work for factory while formerly a master Potter with a few assistants carried out All the Wedgwood split the work up into each allotted to a specialist with the product moving from one area of the factory to another in the transformation from raw material to finished it want until 1774 and after thousands of experiments that Wedgwood produced the creation for which he and his firm have been known Ever since the famous Jasper with Graceful motifs and scenes from greek mythology in White Relief on a Blue the Ware is also produced in shades of yellow and its elegance has kept it in demand for 200 years and it has been used to make a vast Range of delectable objects from Tea and Coffee dishes and bowls and medallions to cigarette and chess the reliefs Are still produced in holds made from the 18thcentury originals and visitors a year to the Wedgwood visitor Center and museum at the company huge factory Complex at just South of can see the traditional hand processes involved in the making of Wedgwood products visitors to the Center admission one Pound for adults about and half that for children watch an 18minute color film which shows How Wedgwood produces its Fine Bone oven notable Ware and the stoneware Jasper and Black in the centers demonstration visitors see demonstrated Many of the crafts throwing on the potters figure the casting of busts and Orna menting that have remained unchanged since the Days of old traditional and modern techniques in the decoration of Fine Bone China Are also including raised enamelling and Multi Lasper not the most practical but probably the most elegant Wedgwood Olor Transfer on the premises is the Magnet for Wedgwood enthusiasts the recently redesigned and expanded museum galleries containing what is acknowledged As the most comprehensive and varied collection of Early and modern examples of virtually All the Ceramic wares made by Josiah Wedgwood and his successors Are together with Early original Wax models and documentary material which traces the evolution of the the environment of an 18thcentury pottery factory is recreated As an authentic setting for the Beautiful products destined for the elegant neoclassical the Regency period is portrayed through an impression of London showrooms and the company victorian showroom in Stoke has been reconstructed from period the Center also contains a souvenir shop with an enormous variety of gifts and including a limited selection of slightly imperfect available for the visitor Center is open All year including Bank holidays monday through 9 to 5 and from april until october on saturday from 10 to 4 for More Telephone the Tours supervisor at Barleston 078139 a Potter shapes a bowl at Wedgwood workers demonstrate their skills at the factors visitor 8 stripes Magazine May