The design codes behind Wedgwood tableware
Josiah Wedgwood founded the company in Staffordshire, England, in 1759, and several of his ideas still shape what the house makes today. Exploring the wider Wedgwood house shows how far the range reaches, but at the table a few codes stand out:
- Jasperware: unglazed stoneware with white classical reliefs on a coloured ground, most famously the soft Wedgwood blue. Today it appears mainly in vases, bowls and decorative pieces rather than everyday plates.
- Fine bone china: the material of most dinner services. It is thin and translucent but strong.
- Creamware: the pale earthenware Wedgwood made for Queen Charlotte, known as Queensware.
- Signature patterns: the long-running Wild Strawberry, with its trailing fruit and gold edges; Florentine Turquoise, with its dense neoclassical border; and Renaissance Gold, which is quieter and suited to formal settings.
As a rule, pieces with a strong border or gilding read as heirloom china. Plain white bone china with a fine rim is easier to mix with what someone already owns.
Choosing Wedgwood tableware as a gift
Start with how the recipient entertains. For a couple setting up a home, a place setting works well: dinner plate, side plate, bowl, cup and saucer. It can be added to over the years, and that makes it a natural wedding gift. For someone who already has a full service, a single serving piece is easier to place: a platter, a cake stand, a teapot or a Jasperware bowl.
A few practical points:
- Check the pattern first. If they own Wedgwood already, matching it is usually more welcome than adding a second design.
- Think about the occasion. China is the traditional twentieth anniversary gift, so a teacup pair or a decorative plate suits meaningful anniversary gifts.
- Consider summer use. South African entertaining often moves outdoors, so plain bone china serving pieces work at a long lunch as well as a formal dinner.
To compare houses, our guide to luxury tableware sets Wedgwood beside Italian porcelain from Ginori tableware.
Caring for bone china and Jasperware
Care depends on the finish. Plain bone china is often dishwasher safe, but always check the backstamp and the maker's guidance. Pieces with gold or platinum bands should be washed by hand in warm water with mild detergent and kept out of the microwave, because metallic decoration can wear or spark. Jasperware is unglazed, so wipe it with a soft damp cloth rather than soaking it.
When storing plates, put felt or paper between them and hang cups instead of stacking them. If you have a pattern or piece in mind, tell us and we will come back with options.