Heritage Products - Page 3
Cane Ware
Cane ware was first catalogued by Josiah Wedgwood in 1787, when he described it as 'Bamboo, or cane-coloured bisqué (or biscuit) porcelain', although the ware had been in production long before. In 1771, for example, Wedgwood wrote of some Cane Ware items to Bentley, 'all who have seen them here, have fall'n in love with them.' Like Jasper, Black Basalt, White Terracotta and Rosso Antico, Cane Ware is a dry-bodied stoneware. Josiah capitalised on the reference to 'bamboo' colouring by producing elaborate items of which sections were moulded to resemble bamboo.
Black Basalt
'The Black is Sterling and will last for ever.' Josiah Wedgwood (7th March 1774). This, the first ornamental body developed by Josiah Wedgwood, was described by him as 'A fine black Porcelain, having nearly the same Properties as the Basaltes [mineral rock], resisting the Attacks of Acids; being a Touch-stone to Copper, Silver and Gold, and equal in Hardness to Agate or Porphyry'.
A black body, called 'Egyptian Black' had been produced by several Staffordshire potteries in the mid 18th century. Josiah, however, was determined to perfect a fine-grained black stoneware which could emulate the so-called ancient Etruscan vases which were being excavated at the time.
The fruit of Josiah's experiments was revealed in August 1768. Black Basalt was as superior to 'Egyptian Black' as his Queen's Ware was to Staffordshire cream coloured earthenware. Smooth as silk, with a lustrous purplish-black sheen, Black Basalt was adored by the public, who purchased as many vases, candlesticks, tableware, and portrait medallions as the factory could produce.
First Day's Vases
When Etruria, Josiah Wedgwood's new factory, was officially opened on 13 June 1769, he celebrated the occasion by personally throwing six vases in Black Basalt. These 'First Day's Vases' were then sent down to the 'Chelsea Decorating Studios' to be painted with encaustic decorations. Wedgwood wrote to Bentley in London that the vases 'sho'd be finished as high as you please, but not sold, they being the first fruits of Etruria.'
The subject of the painting on these vases was 'Hercules in the Garden of the Hesperides', and each carried the inscription 'Artes Etruriae Renascuntur' ('The Arts of Etruria are reborn') as well as the date on which they were thrown. Only four of the First Day's Vases survived the decorating process and of these two are held in the collection of the Wedgwood Museum at Barlaston.
Fittingly, when the Etruria factory was finally closed in June 1950, six 'Last Day's Vases' were produced to commemorate the event.
Encaustic Painting
The ancient Etruscan vases were largely red with a black decoration and it was this appearance Josiah Wedgwood sought to emulate with his encaustic decorated Black Basalt body. Josiah originally referred to his unpainted Black Basalt as 'Etruscan', but this term was later reserved exclusively for pieces painted in the Etruscan style. Most notable of these were the 'First Day's Vases'.
George III, Queen Charlotte, Catherine the Great, other rulers, princes and peers all owned examples of Wedgwood's Etruscan vases.
