Terms and conditions of use
Tea and coffee service
(1764-1770)
Medium
earthenware (creamware)
Measurements
(a-b) 13.3 × 20.9 × 12 cm (overall) (teapot)
(c-d) 24.1 × 21.1 × 12.8 cm (overall) (coffee pot)
(e-f) 15.5 × 11.4 × 9.1 cm (overall) (milk jug)
(g) 10.6 × 7.7 × 5.3 cm (tea caddy)
(h-i) 4.9 × 12.4 cm diameter (overall) (tea bowl and saucer)
(j-k) 5 × 12.3 cm diameter (overall) (tea bowl and saucer)
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Presented through The Art Foundation of Victoria by Mr Keith M. Deutsher, Founder Benefactor, 1993
Gallery location
18th Century Decorative Arts & Paintings Gallery
Level 2, NGV International
About this work
One of the earliest innovations of Wedgwood’s manufactory was an improved creamware body, developed in 1763. Creamware was a refined earthenware made using white clay from Dorset or Devon and finished with a lead-based glaze. It was fired at a lower temperature than salt-glazed stonewares and was less liable to break or chip. Attractive, durable and cheap creamware was destined to replace salt-glazed and tin-glazed tableware both in England and Europe. By the summer of 1766 Wedgwood had been appointed ‘Potter to Her Majesty’, and he named his creamware body ‘Queen’s Ware’.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
Staffordshire, England
Inscription
(a) impressed in base u.l.: WEDGWOOD
impressed in base c.r.: C
incised in base u.r.: (triangle)
(c) impressed (inverted) in base c.r.: WEDGWOOD
incised (diagonally) in base c.r.: (triangle)
incised (vertically) in base l.l.: V
(e) incised in base u.l.: (cross)
(g) impressed in base u.c.: Wedgwood
(h) impressed in base u.r.: ()
(i) incised in base c.: L
(j) incised in base c.: (triangle)
(k) impressed in base l.r.: ()
Accession Number
D9.a-k-1993
Department
International Decorative Arts
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited
Physical description
Earthenware (creamware), decorated with the 'Tea party' and 'Shepherd' patterns transfer-printed in brownish-black.