Wonderlust: Inspired by the Wedgwood archive

Our Sapphire Garden pattern takes inspiration from botanical designs and the Wedgwood archive. 

A nod to delicate blooms drawn many years ago, this new Wonderlust pattern builds on the floral foundation to now include curious creatures and a bold backdrop of colour. 

All great ideas start somewhere, and Sapphire Garden’s journey began in the late 1820s when these flowers were first sketched.

From the creative minds of the past to the design and imagination of the present.

The original Water Lily pattern hails all the way back to the 1800s. A variation of the design was originally engraved in 1806 for the Wedgwood factory, with the pattern going into production in early 1808. Over the years it has seen many variations, including being printed in red on-glaze, as well as a blue-printed variation with cut reed border. 

It is thought the inspiration for the pattern came from John Wedgwood, Josiah’s eldest son. John was particularly interested in horticulture and was one of the founding members of the Horticultural Society (later the RHS).

The original pattern is sometimes referred to as “Darwin Water Lily”, with Susannah Darwin (Josiah’s eldest child and the mother of Charles Darwin) being gifted it for her wedding day by her brothers.

Today it has been developed in colour as part of our new Wonderlust collection – a wonderful nod to the past, with a modern, creative and eclectic Wedgwood twist. The colours reflect the wonderful horticultural inspiration, while the crane adds an element of curiousity and wonder to the pattern.