Review by Booklist Review
Few china producers have created as many instantly recognizable stonewares as Wedgwood. From the soft pastels and classic motifs of its famed jasperware to the bucolic scenes gracing the creamware tea and dinner services favored by the British aristocracy and international royalty, Wedgwood pottery has set the standard for fine dining since its inception in the mid-eighteenth century. Its founder, Josiah Wedgwood, was an astute and masterful craftsman, both in his global pursuit of the finest raw materials and in his innovative artistic and manufacturing techniques. Hunt, historian and director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, presents a thoroughly researched and sweeping discourse on Britain's pottery trade, placing it firmly within the rise of upper-class social demands and the transformative economics of the Industrial Revolution. As a leading industrialist, Wedgwood oversaw massive changes to the country's infrastructure; as a pioneering businessman, he became the architect of modern marketing; and as a prominent abolitionist, he was in the spotlight as a trailblazing advocate for social justice. Hunt's in-depth biography will pique the interest of readers fascinated by Wedgwood and the wide-ranging history of pottery.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
In this new biography, historian Hunt (director, Victoria & Albert Museum; Cities of Empire) chronicles the life of Josiah Wedgwood (1730--95), the Briton who created the Wedgwood ceramics company--a brand famous for its commercial success and reputation for quality. Born into a family of potters whose company did well but didn't always have tremendous success, Wedgwood soon struck out on his own to manufacture ceramics in Staffordshire. With his love of experimentation and his gift for leveraging high-placed connections, Wedgwood, along with business partner Thomas Bentley, grew the company into a commercial success whose fine earthenware, stoneware, and eventually porcelain was purchased by English and Russian royalty. Hunt also explores Wedgwood's nonconformist political sympathies, his membership in various scientific societies, and his role in spreading British national pride by making cameos of war heroes and propagandistic pottery that commemorated naval victories. Hunt argues that Wedgwood ceramics' success is owed to its founder's solid commercial sense and gift for creating desirable pieces. VERDICT A bit dry in places but will likely appeal to academics, people in the decorative arts, and history buffs who enjoy biographies that include a solid amount of cultural background.--Stacy Shaw, Denver
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A biography of the English potter whose last name is a byword for fine china. In this well-researched portrait, Hunt, the director of the Victoria & Albert Museum, explores the life and times of Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795). Following his father's death, Josiah entered the family pottery trade as an apprentice to his eldest brother. After contracting smallpox, Wedgwood was no longer able to throw clay, so he began focusing on the business side of the company. With the Industrial Revolution came an explosion in the production of consumer goods, particularly tea, and the demand for teapots, cups, and saucers "would provide a perfect spur for the British ceramics industry as it sought to edge Chinese porcelain off the tea table." Sure that the market for white stone pottery had become saturated, Wedgwood began experimenting with new colors of clay and glazes. His brother was averse to taking risks, and after arguing over the matter, they parted ways, after which Wedgwood went on to create his own empire. As Hunt notes, Wedgwood was "a defining figure of his age," comparing him to Steve Jobs today. Not only was he radical in his designs, but he was also radical in his politics. Wedgwood was a member of the free-thinking Lunar Society, a group of like-minded men devoted to science and literature. Having "faith in the possibilities of progress," among his beliefs was the value of vaccinations. Showing solidarity for the leaders of the American Revolution, in 1790, he designed a tea caddy depicting George Washington on one side and a Continental Army soldier on the other. Despite his business benefiting from "the network of aristocratic families whose fortunes were made, or bolstered by, plantation profits," he was a devoted abolitionist. Even though British consumerism was fueled by the slave trade, he actively campaigned against slavery. As Hunt notes, the purpose of his biography is to help people understand the centrality of Wedgwood in the transformation of Britain. In this, he succeeds. A captivating portrait of a remarkably innovative man. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
