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Josiah Wedgwood (& Sons) (Ltd.)

The famous Wedgwood firm is too well documented for details to be reproduced here. Suffice it to say that Josiah Wedgwood appears in the first extant directory of 1781 and then through to 1822. It then became Josiah Wedgwood & Sons from 1828 through to 1896, and thereafter is listed as a limited company. Godden gives the dates as c.1759 in Burslem, c.1769 in Etruria, and from 1940 at Barlaston. He does not specify the various company styles.

The firm did not play a large role in the manufacture of relief-moulded jugs although they used the technique very early and continued to make a few jugs throughout the 19th century. Only a few designs were registered, some mainly for use with majolica glazes.

Jugs are listed below in approximate date order, although except for the obviously early jugs and the later majolica designs, little dating information ia available. Unlike other pages on this website, the lists below are preliminary, clearly not complete, and will be expanded as information and images become available.

Gothic (not titled)
Design not published. The jug appears in Wedgwood's 1817 catalogue. When found in a single colour, it is not easy to discern whether the figures are moulded as part of the jug or added sprigs.
Marks: impressed "WEDGWOOD"
Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/28; Hughes 1/15

Leafage (not titled)
Design not published. The jug appears in Wedgwood's 1817 catalogue.
Marks: impressed "WEDGWOOD"
Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/27

Flowerheads and Holly (not titled)
Design not published. A typical early jug, the moulded body enhanced with sprigging.
Marks: impressed "WEDGWOOD"
Illustrations: Henrywood RMJ/29; Hughes 2/5

Foxes and Geese (not titled)
Design registered on 21 March 1843, Parcel 5, Number 5994, by Josiah Wedgwood & Sons of Etruria. The Design Registry drawing shows the cartouche to be empty; the design seems to have been made with either Foxes and Geese or unidentified commemorative busts (see below).
Marks: impressed "WEDGWOOD / ETRURIA" and impressed registration diamond
Illustrations: Hughes 2/p.97 (Design Registry engraving)

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Commemorative (not titled)
Design registered on 21 March 1843, Parcel 5, Number 5994, by Josiah Wedgwood & Sons of Etruria. The Design Registry drawing shows the cartouche to be empty; the design seems to have been made with either unidentified commemorative busts or Foxes and Geese (see above)..
Marks: impressed "WEDGWOOD / ETRURIA" and printed registration diamond
Illustrations: none

e

Cherubs (not titled)
Design not published or registered.
Marks: impressed "WEDGWOOD"
Illustrations: none

The jug was produced or reintroduced in the 20th century with a stamped "Made in England" mark.
Hops and Barley Border (not titled)
Design not published or registered.
Marks: impressed "WEDGWOOD"
Illustrations: none

Reed (not titled)
Design registered on 22 September 1864, Parcel 6, number 178826, by Josiah Wedgwood & Sons of Etruria. The Design Registry drawing is inscribed "Reed Jug".
Marks: not yet known
Illustrations: none

    

Foliate Bands (temporary title)
Design registered on 20 December 1867, Parcel 3, number 215085, by Josiah Wedgwood & Sons of Etruria.
Marks: not yet known
Illustrations: none

    
Washington and Lincoln (not titled)
Design registered on 19 June 1876, Parcel 2, Number 301302, by Josiah Wedgwood & Sons of Etruria. A design presumably intended to mark the American centenary of independence.
Marks: not yet known
Illustrations: Hughes 2/p.107 (Design Registry photographs)		    

Credits: Rob & Deb Blount; Robert Carde; Leslie LeFevre-Stratton; Guy Loveday; Dreweatt-Neate, Newbury