BURSLEM IN THE POTTERIES

In roaming around the internet I stumbled upon some interesting pictures on a flickr site by Futurilla and I thought I'd share the photos. You can go here to see Futurilla's Photostream or simply enjoy these images. Since I posted this more photos have been added to Futurilla's Photostream, so you'll need to scroll thru more pix to find all the Wedgwood related shots, but it's worth the few moments it takes, several great pictures of Wedgwood sites.
The is the doorway to the now shuttered Wedgwood Institute; you'll find more about it in an older post.
This is Burslem from Grange, a spectacular view of this very old town so much connected with the Potteries. This is the town where Josiah I was baptized.
The Backway to Burslem, what a lovely ride!
Thank you to Futurilla for making these photos available to those of us who wish we were there!

WEDGWOOD MUSEUM NEWS AND KEITH MURRAY

I have just learned from my good buddy Adele of the Wedgwood Society of Washington, D.C., that the court date for the Wedgwood Museum Trust pension fiasco is now looking like this coming fall or later. Talk about dragging one's feet! It appears to this observer that if it was important to settle the issue, which MANY of us believe it is, action would be moved along. Apparently someone somewhere does not WANT this problem solved; or perhaps they just have NO clue how to solve it so are ignoring it, hoping it will disappear. Among the world's stupidity, this is at the top of my list, which grows longer with every passing day.

On a brighter note, click the title of this post to view an 'Annular' shape coffee cup by famed Wedgwood designer Keith Murray. I take issue with the writer's calling what Murray designed for Wedgwood "glassware"...a misnomer for sure! The Los Angeles County Museum of Art does hold wonderful treasures, but "glassware" by Keith Murray, NOT!

WEDGWOOD SOCIETY CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARIES

One of the several Wedgwood organizations to which I belong is the Wedgwood Society of New South Wales. I have been privileged to meet some of the members 'in person' over the years, and sometimes send contributions to their newsletter The Medallion. In 2011 the Society celebrates 35 years since they were formed as a chapter of the Wedgwood Society of Australia, and 25 years since they incorporated as The Wedgwood Society of New South Wales, Inc. They offer an interesting newsletter which gives a bit of a 'down under' spin on varying Wedgwood subjects. Often one can get a good idea of what's what in the Wedgwood world in the southern hemisphere, and it's fun to see how it's different than our world here in the USA. The WSNSW is a 'sister society' to the Wedgwood Society of Washington, DC, and thus shares members and information on a regular basis. Check the LINKS tab on our website to go to the website of both. This month's newsletter is as always very interesting, but the most fun thing I found is a link to a radio show featuring "The Drama of the Young Josiah Wedgwood as given over 175 radio stations from coast to coast during the week of January 5th, 1947, as part of the series Adventures in Research [sponsored by Westinghouse radio stations]..." A review of meetings of the Wedgwood Club of Boston found in Old Wedgwood, is the source of the information. Please realize that this is a fancifull script, not always the accurate actual facts as known and recorded, and in some cases, the order of events is a bit incorrect. It runs 15 minutes and you can access it right here. When you get to the site, scroll down to #38, Beauty in Clay, and be sure your volume is at max level. ENJOY! And thank you to Paul Thomas, editor of The Medallion, for bringing this piece of history to light. Paul is often the source of wonderful pearls of Wedgwood wisdom and this is no exception. WSNSW Member Judy Jones has contributed to this blog in the past too, check older posts to see her much appreciated contributions. To learn more about The Wedgwood Society of New South Wales, click the title of this post to go to their website. They are always looking for new members, they have interesting meetings and other activities and are a great group of people. Besides all that, they often start their emails with a happy 'G'day' which always brings a smile to my face! Happy Anniversary WSNSW!!

WEDGWOOD MUSEUM PRODUCES WEDDING MUG

We all know how the British love to commemorate important royal 'happenings' and they don't get much better than the upcoming marriage of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton. The Wedgwood Museum in Barlaston has announced the production of a good-looking mug with a design heritage harking back to Richard Guyatt, a well-known and admired Wedgwood designer. The Museum has a wonderful website, you'll find a link to it here on our blog, or you can Google the Wedgwood Museum Barlaston and you'll find it. We haven't yet tried to order ours (and are not sure they are available via mail order from the Museum Shop), but it seems like the perfect thing for drinking my tea when I attend a party at 5AM on 4/29 to watch the wedding with my fellow Daughters of the British Empire members. We're supposed to wear our jammies & a fascinator! I think I feel a blogpost in the making, but it's still awhile away! Click the title of this post to read all about the new mug and its talented designer. There is a link in the article to the Museum's site.

Here is a GREAT article all about the subject of Royal Souvenirs, it's long so get a cuppa (preferably a royal souvenir mug or cup) and relax and enjoy!

ALEXIS ANTIQUES BRANCHES OUT PAST WEDGWOOD

Alexis Antiques has been in the business of selling Wedgwood and related products for 16 years now. Our websites have always been geared toward our Wedgwood products with a few historical china items added in. It has become difficult to add in merchandise that isn't Wedgwood, so we created a new store within a store we might call it, naming it Alexis Antiques Annex. We're pointing this out at this time because we are preparing to add quite a bit of merchandise to the Annex. We have some lovely dinnerware, beautiful collectible tea cups, and other vintage and antique items we want to bring to the marketplace. Additionally we have a great stock of genealogy books listed for sale. Click the title of this post to go the Alexis Antiques Annex segment of Alexis Antiques website. There won't be any Wedgwood in the Annex, but lots of great "stuff" new to the internet and our site. Enjoy and be sure to let us know if you have any questions! We'll be adding new items frequently in the coming weeks to both Alexis Antiques and Alexis Antiques Annex, and there is always something new at www.collegeplates.com too!

METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART DISPLAYS SWANS

Click the title of this post to see a gorgeous large Wedgwood majolica vase sporting beautiful swans. It's not a piece we haven't seen before, it's a gorgeous photo of one of the two held by The Met. I'm surprised at their description, it's really not "pottery" but earthenware and there is no mention of the word Majolica. Certainly The Met ceramic curatorial staff knows these terms. Seems odd to me that they aren't used! If there is something to pine for in the ceramic world, this would rank high on our list of desires! Enjoy!

Go here to see the Met's other Wedgwood holdings, pretty wonderful!