Here from our friend Lord Anthony Pulford of Glencoe, Scotland, is another interesting article he has shared for our enjoyment. Thank you Lord Anthony for your continuing interest in Wedgwood and Alexis Antiques, and for your thorough and entertaining research! Photos courtesy of the author.
VICTORIAN TASTE
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The portrait medallion of William The Silent, Prince of Orange
(1533-1584) taken from an engraving based on the painting by Michiel
Mierevelt was first listed in the Wedgwood catalogue of 1788 and has
been reproduced a number of times.
The jasperware example is marked WEDGWOOD only and dates from c1860
but, by the 1870's, the Victorian taste for brightly coloured and
decorative items had largely replaced the severe lines of classic
jasperware. The second example, of the same subject, dating from c1875
and also marked WEDGWOOD only, reflects this change in taste and is produced in the
majolica body. So popular did this form of decoration prove that, throughout
the 1870's, almost every class of ware was made in majolica and,
reportedly, outnumbered all other ornamental wares.
By the 1880's, the number of paintresses employed had almost doubled,
mainly with girls recruited from the government art schools. They
showed great skill in painting the moulded details of the piece although
the same may not be said of the mould-maker who obviously had some
difficulty applying the inscription.
Majolica continued to be produced at Etruria into the 20th Century but output
declined partly in response to government pressure to reduce the high
lead content of the glazes used in production.
