V&A Wedgwood Collection

04/09/2026

Have you seen our new map which showcases the Wedgwood factories?

The map at the start of the galleries plots where all the Wedgwood factories have existed across Stoke-on-Trent over 250 years of history.

Josiah Wedgwood I's first rented premises were at The Ivy House Works and the Brick Works in Burslem between 1759 - 1772. Josiah Wedgwood I's custom built factory, The Etruria Works, sits just outside of Stoke town, and opened in 1769 along the Trent & Mersey Canal. The current factory sits to the south of the canal in Barlaston, which has been the home of Wedgwood after a large-scale move from Etruria orchestrated by Josiah Wedgwood V between 1936 - 1940.

The new map links to our current 'Unpacking Wedgwood' display, which is focusing on the history of both Etruria and Barlaston, shown on the lids of these trinket boxes within the display.

There will be one more change coming soon to the galleries to continue telling the stories of the two factories, have a guess in the comments at what it could be?

03/09/2026

📢 Job opportunity 📢

We are seeking a Cataloguer to work on an exciting project at the V&A Wedgwood Collection.

Part of the V&A’s ambitious plans to enhance digital access and expand research and programming, 'Unpacking the V&A Wedgwood Collection' will enable future generations of visitors and researchers to benefit from this significant collection of ceramics, art and archives. As a cataloguer, you will unpack and document an amazing variety of objects, helping tell the story as we go.

If this sounds like the role for you, follow the link to see the full job description: https://vam.current-vacancies.com/Jobs/Advert/4306314?cid=3279&rsid=24732&js=0&LinkType=1&FromSearch=False

28/08/2026

Rethinking jasperware.

Since 1775, Josiah Wedgwood’s (1730-95) iconic jasper body has been consistently reinterpreted to intersect with different tastes and fashions.

In 2001, the company commissioned British ceramicist Vicky Shaw (b. 1962) to produce a collection of work for the 100% Design exhibition in London. The brief was to design and make a range of one-off contemporary pieces using jasperware.

Shaw designed and made a variety of press-moulded bowls and utensils, each with a screen-printed decoration which explored abstraction, colour and pattern.

Image 1: Bowl, jasperware, screen printing, designed and made by Vicky Shaw for Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, Barlaston, 2001 (WE.19245-2014)
Image 2: Pot with utensils, jasperware, designed and made by Vicky Shaw for Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, Barlaston, 2001 (WE.19251-2014)
Image 3: Bowl, jasperware, screen printing, designed and made by Vicky Shaw for Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, Barlaston, 2001 (WE.19248-2014)
Image 4: Bowl, jasperware, screen printing, designed and made by Vicky Shaw for Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, Barlaston, 2001 (WE.19246-2014)
Image 5: Bowl, jasperware, screen printing, designed and made by Vicky Shaw for Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, Barlaston, 2001 (WE.19264-2014)

24/08/2026

Families! Join us for the last week of summer fun ☀️

Make stamps to decorate your own paper Etruscan vase on Tuesday or Thursday at Craft Club. Designed for families with children over 3.

Explore the archives, tour the galleries and craft in our 'Weird and Wonderful' Creatures Majolica Makes workshop. Designed for families with children over 7.

Booking is advised: https://brnw.ch/21x59Yw
https://brnw.ch/21x59Yx

Craft Club is a free family-friendly workshop that explores the V&A Wedgwood Collection through making, creating and crafting. Summer Holidays: Join us on Tuesdays and Thursdays over the summer holidays for a new craft each week inspired by key objects and themes in the V&A Wedgwood Collection. Week...

21/08/2026

Blue is the ocean, blue is the sky!

These objects belong to the 'Summer Sky' collection designed by Norman Wilson and modelled by Eric Owen. The two coloured-clay effect was produced by slip decorating cream-coloured earthenware. Introduced in the mid-1950s, the shape was known as Barlaston shape. There were many colour variants produces, the blue and cream is 'Summer Sky'.

Image 1: Coffee Pot, 'Summer Sky', glazed earthenware, Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, Stoke-on-Trent, 1962, WE.9706:1-2014

Image 2: Toast rack, 'Summer Sky', glazed earthenware, Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, Barlaston, 1964, WE.16039-2014

Image 3: Sugar Bowl, 'Summer Sky', glazed earthenware, Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, Stoke-on-Trent, ca. 1955, WE.9708:1-2014

Image 4: Cup, 'Summer Sky', glazed earthenware, Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, Stoke-on-Trent, ca. 1955, WE.9707-2014

18/08/2026

With summer flying by, make sure you don’t miss out on our fabulous upcoming family activities!

Join us for our final Majolica Makes workshop on the 26th of August (1pm-3pm). Explore highlights from our galleries and archive and unleash your artistic side with a majolica themed craft. Discover the weird and wonderful of Victorian ceramics in this workshop suitable for families with children aged 7-13.

Book now:

Join us this summer to explore the vibrant Victorian pottery style of majolica with our free, family-friendly Majolica Makes workshops for children aged 7-13. Join us every other Friday over the summer holidays for the chance to go behind the scenes in our archives, explore the majolica on display i...

14/08/2026

Fancy a cuppa of Ice (Rose) Coffee?

We're sure the heat is taking its toll on you. But maybe this snazzy 1960s Russell Hobbs x Wedgwood coffee percolator might serve not only a cuppa but also a welcome distraction? This one is decorated with the very popular 'Ice Rose' pattern, designed by Robert Minkin (1928–2012) in 1959.

Stay hydrated!...(coffee counts too, they say)

12/08/2026

New display at the V&A Wedgwood Collection! 📢

'Refugee to Wedgwood Designer' celebrates the life and work of Ulla Goodman (1924-81), a refugee artist who despite experiencing loss and tragedy, led a remarkable life.

Ulla was a 14-year-old German Jewish refugee who escaped N**i persecution to England in July 1939, never to see family again. Her escape was orchestrated by Josiah Wedgwood IV, MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme (1872-1943), who invited many European refugees to live in his Staffordshire bungalow, known as 'The Ark'.

A gifted artist and ceramicist, Ulla later graduated from the Royal College of Art and joined Wedgwood to work as a full-time designer in 1954. She contributed to the company’s post-war recovery with her ‘Tiger Lily’ and 'Bay Leaf' patterns, which proved immensely popular in the UK and United States. Later, she moved to India, dedicating the remainder of her life to the transcendental meditation movement.

You can find the display in the V&A Wedgwood Collection Welcome Space at World of Wedgwood.

10/08/2026

Our summer Craft Clubs have been so much fun so far! From wearable fairy wings to a collaborative alphabet pattern we have been exploring a new Wedgwood design each week.

Join us this week to make your own puppets inspired by the costumes created for the 1930 bicentenary celebrations of Josiah Wedgwood’s birth. Will you recreate the The Ceramic Queen or Josiah Wedgwood himself?

As an extra special craft tomorrow, you can create your own paper projector to safely view the Solar Eclipse on Wednesday evening, inspired by Josiah Wedgwood’s membership in the Lunar Society, a club which brought together some of the most important scientists and thinkers of his day.

07/08/2026

Happy International B**r Day!🍺

Did you know that Wedgwood made steins as well as saucers? The ‘Caterer’s Jug’, made in 1870, was designed by Frederick Brett Russel (1813-1869).

This majolica stein bears a motto from Shakespeare’s the Comedy of Errors about what makes a good gathering: ‘What tho my cates be poor take them in good part, may you have better cheer but not with better heart’.