Arguably the most celebrated of all English ceramics makers, Wedgwood was founded in 1759 by potter Josiah Wedgwood in Staffordshire, which was home at one time to hundreds of pottery workshops.
Wedgwood is famed for its Jasperware — molded neoclassical stoneware vases, plates and other pieces inspired by ancient cameo glass, featuring white figures, scenes and decorative elements set in relief on a matte-colored background. The best-known background hue is light blue, but Wedgwood’s iconic silhouettes also appear on green, lilac, yellow, black and even white grounds. Some antique Wedgwood dinnerware pieces and other items feature three or more colors. The company is also known for its black stoneware, Black Basalt, which imitates the color and shapes of Etruscan vases.
The Wedgwood firm first came to prominence for its tableware, which quickly gained favor in aristocratic households throughout Britain and Europe. In 1765, Wedgwood was commissioned to create a cream-colored earthenware service for Queen Charlotte, consort of King George III. The queen was so thrilled with her new china that Wedgwood was given permission to call himself “Potter to Her Majesty,” and the decorative style became known as Queen’s Ware.
Not to be outdone, Catherine the Great of Russia commissioned her own set of Wedgwood china in 1773. Nearly 200 years later, the firm created a 1,200-piece service for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. In recent years, leading designers including Jasper Conran and Vera Wang have collaborated with Wedgwood — in the tradition of such distinguished 18th-century artists such as the painter George Stubbs and metalsmith Matthew Boulton.
From plates and other dinnerware to decorative items like urns, cachepots and candlesticks, Wedgwood designs lend a traditional air to Anglophile interiors. And even if you have to make your own tea, you may find it comforting to sip it from a delicate cup that was manufactured in the same Stoke-on-Trent kiln that produced Her Majesty’s tea service. Be sure to keep your pinky raised.
Find antique Josiah Wedgwood pottery, dinner plates, serving pieces and other furnishings and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
Monumental Pair of Wedgwood Black Basalt Urn Table Lamps with Classical Relief
By Josiah Wedgwood
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
Monumental Pair of Wedgwood Black Basalt Urn Table Lamps with Classical Relief. The bodies are crafted from black basalt, a fine-grained, unglazed stoneware developed by Josiah Wedg...
Ceramic, Stoneware
1900s Classical Metal Urn Lamp with Cats
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1900 classical metal urn lamp adorned with gilt cats. One of a kind!
Metal
19th Century English Wedgwood Black Basalt Urn Table Lamp
By Wedgewood
Located in Vero Beach, FL
19th Century English Wedgwood Black Basalt Urn Table Lamp Stunning Wedgwood black porcelain urn of very fine quality. One of the highest pottery ...
Porcelain
Classical Urn Lamp
By Jonathan Sainsbury
Located in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset
A large turned wood Neo-classical table lamp with over sized S scroll handles. Bespoke sizing, design adaptations and finishing available. Please note that we are currently working t...
Wood
$3,120Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 35 in W 16 in D 16 in
Vintage Pair of Black Oversized French Table Lamp Urns
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Lovely pair of vintage French black oversized urn table lamps. These have been newly wired and have all new brass hardware. Includes original matching fi...
Composition, Metal, Brass
A Pair of Black Basalt Porcelain Egyptian Revival Lamps
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A Pair of Egyptian Revival Parcel Gilt Black Basalt Porcelain Figural Griffin Form Candlestick Lamps, mid 20th Century. Each modeled as a seated griffin having a gold medallion with ...
Porcelain
$3,750 / set
H 18 in Dm 7.75 in
Pair of English 19th Century Lead Urn Table Lamps with Classical Motifs, Wired
Located in Atlanta, GA
A handsome pair of English 19th-century lead urns, now converted into table lamps and elevated on later wooden plinths. Rich in neoclassical detail, each urn features a fluted balust...
Lead
Monumental Alabaster Urn Lamp
Located in San Francisco, CA
A very large and impressive alabaster urn shaped lamp. Newly re-wired. Europe, early to mid 20th century.
Alabaster
Pair of Staffordshire Classical Urn-Form Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of black Amphora urn-form porcelain vases, each with colorful transfer decoration of Charioteers and Classical figural motifs, having a flared neck ...
Pottery
Pair of Urn Form Table Lamps by Chapman
By Chapman Manufacturing Company
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Manufactured by Chapman Manufacturing Company, these table lamps resembles a fluted English urn (or an Accolade cup trophy) made from solid brass. The shades are newly designed, an...
Brass
Large Pair Of Faux Bronze Classical Urn Lamps
Located in Kent, Dover
A pair of large English faux bronze Classical urn lamps, on plinths, with flambe finials. Carved wood, painted and gilded.
Brass
$3,500 / set
H 26 in Dm 9 in
Pair of Mid-Century Italian Porcelain Urn-Form Table Lamps with White Relief
Located in Atlanta, GA
A refined pair of Italian mid-century porcelain table lamps of classical urn form, richly decorated with applied white scrolling foliage in high relief against a soft ivory-cream gro...
Brass
$3,500
H 40 in W 10.5 in D 9 in
Warren Kessler French Neoclassical Empire Black Basalt Large Urn Table Lamp
By Warren Kessler
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Warren Kessler French Neoclassical Empire Black Basalt Wedgwood Style Large Urn Form Table Lamp. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 40" H (to finial) x 32" H (to light soc...
Ceramic
Sold
H 14.75 in W 7 in D 7 in
Antique Blue Wedgwood Jasperware Ceramic Porcelain Lamp Urn Vase Centerpiece
By Josiah Wedgwood
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An exceptionally fine example of a Single English Jasperware Wedgwood Urn of good size proportions, now converted to an electric table lamp. Mid twentieth century. The twin arche...
Ceramic, Porcelain
Pair of Swedish Late 18th c. Wedgwood Girandoles
By Josiah Wedgwood
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
The base of the stems is made of imported Wedgwood Jasper ware, while the bronze and cut glass work of these girandoles are made in Sweden during the end of the 18th century. Jas...
Ormolu