250 YEARS OF JASPERWARE

Our founder Josiah Wedgwood – pioneer, innovator, scientist, artist, marketeer and campaigner – constantly sought to disrupt and challenge traditional thinking. Whether tools, techniques or processes, he was forever driven to find intelligent new ways to do things better.

One of his finest achievements was Jasperware, invented and perfected after more than 5,000 painstaking experiments.
Exclusively handcrafted in England, Jasper is a signature Wedgwood material, a form of stoneware with a matte ‘biscuit’ finish.

The material is now an unmistakable hallmark for our brand, recognisable the world over.

CELEBRATING OUR STORIED HERITAGE

Josiah’s restless creative philosophy lives as part of the past, present and future of Wedgwood. Major milestones are marked to celebrate that storied heritage.

In 1930, for example, Wedgwood honoured the bicentennial of its illustrious founder’s birth with a special international design competition.

The winning design was an elegant eau de nil vase featuring off-white ornamentations and fine gilding. The winning designer was Danish glass artist Emmanuel Tjerne, whose name is now an indelible part of Wedgwood’s history.

2025 marks a moment of similar significance: 250 years of Jasper, Josiah Wedgwood’s most iconic creation.

Seeking an appropriate way to celebrate this landmark, one that honoured our creative heritage while looking to the future, Wedgwood launched an exciting generative AI tool: Jasper 250.

JASPER 250 AI COMPETITION

Jasper 250, which was built by digital agency XXII Studio, gave people the power to customise their own Jasperware masterpieces and submit them as part of an exciting design competition.

Once generated, the AI designs were submitted to our expert panel by being shared on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok using the hashtag #JASPER250.

A 3D-printed version of the winning design was acquired by the V&A Wedgwood Collection and shown as part of a free display celebrating the anniversary in June 2025, called Unpacking the V&A Wedgwood Collection: Jasper 250.

The winner received a framed portrait of their piece and their name was prominently displayed on a plaque next to the 3D-printed model.

This wrote their name into Wedgwood’s history forever.