Chris, NY, USA While the quality of the products made in Indonesia or elswhere may be on a par with those previously produced in Stoke-on-Trent, when you ship away the production, the brand prestige, history and heritage dissapear enroute in the eyes of the customer.
The truth is however that the vast majority of working-middle class consumers, are, for the most part, no longer prepared to pay a premium for tableware produced in England, when comparible quality products, being produced in Asia, are nowadays being sold for substantially lower prices.
Many of the Stoke-on-Trent producers however, Wedgwood among them, joined the bandwaggon of "marketing the brand" rather than more efficiently producing the products that earned them their global reputation over the years. This is OK as long as the consumer considers that brand to have retained it's value as a premium marque.
But also, ask any kiln or related equipment supplier where they were selling the majority of their new, more efficient manufacturing equipment during the past 20 years, and those that are left will be able to tell you that it wasn't to manufacturers in Stoke-on-Trent, who for years continued to operate with equipment that should have long retired. Heck it was only a few years back that Wedgwood were still running a number of twin chamber tunnel kilns at Barlaston, which were built by Brown Boverie back in Yes these may have been great when they were built, but much more efficient equipment had long become available since.
These were eventually been retired in the late 's, but with the lack of new, and significant investment over many years, when Wedgwood finally got a rude awakening and came to realise what was happening to them competition wise, any stides they then tried to make then were way too little, and way too late.
Wedgwood were traditionally manufacturers at heart, but with an arrogant and incompetant management group at the helm, that milked their business for as long a time as they could, what else would happend but eventual failure!
The cash cow dried up, and the cow keeled over and died. I have no doubt that some high-end, perhaps niche artisan business will long continue under the Wedgwood name in some corner of Stoke-on-Trent into the future, but for the most part the real Wedgwood story is over, and something only to be read in history books. Nancy What a joke the Wedgewood company still charges a fortune for products made in Asia where the wages they pay the workers are virtually nothing.
English workers used to receive a decent salary making wedgewood. I would not spit on any Wedgewood product now, to me no matter how much the company charge the product is worthless, because the company now pays the workers virtually nothing, as if they were worthless too! My family has been long time collectors and I had visited the old factory before moving to Wedgewood, as well as the WEdgewood visitor center and factory.
There was a pride of ownership and individuality that was lost. The devastation to the surrounding area due to lack of demand for the artisans makes me want to cry. I dislike the watering down of a profession that has been such an intricate part of England and the lives of the collectors.
I agree with Sue Clarke totally. YY China crockery originated in China, but the English are quick to claim that the best products from Wedgwood et al. Might British people consider the possibility — no matter how remote it might seem to them — that Indonesian Wedgwood can be just as good as, or even superior, to those made in England?
Teresa I think its sad Britian is loosing so much of its manufacturing. I also was effected when the textile industy moved abroad, I'd only want to buy the Wedgwood made in the Stoke on Trent. Sue Clarke ex Doulton Painter It just makes me so angry for the skilled people of Stoke on Trent to think that all their years of loyalty have been rewarded by the total destruction of there lively hoods, whoever employs a worker from the pottery industry can be sure they are getting a hardworking and loyal employee, I am so proud to have been born in Stoke-on Trent.
Ex Wedgwood I totally agree with ex potter, showing these pictures has made me so angry. To know that all the loyalty that was given by so many people has just been pushed to one side again. What kind of bone is used in making Wedgwood tableware?
This makes our china extremely hard and durable and cannot absorb fluids or food. The processing of the china results in a beautiful translucent white appearance, which is considered among the strongest types of porcelain in the industry. Wedgwood collaborations We have lots of friends that we work and collaborate with.
Find a list of our latest collaborations below and simply click the link to shop! Why do my plates have grey marks on them? Some Wedgwood stoneware owners notice grey marks or 'scratches' on their dinnerware. Don't panic—this isn't a defect.
These marks can occur when metal utensils are used and meet the hard glazes typically used by most stoneware manufacturers. Stoneware glazes look and feel very smooth—however the surface is made up of microscopic 'peaks and valleys'.
When metal utensils touch the surface of the stoneware, often being softer than the glaze, tiny metal particles get caught in the microscopic valleys, causing those grey marks. Though some customers refer to these as scratches, there's not usually any actual damage to the glaze or the stoneware body. The good news is that metal deposits can be removed with a variety of cleansers such as Bar Keepers Friend.
The combination of chemical action and a mild abrasive in the cleaner easily removes the metal particles from the glaze What are your recommended care instructions? We recommend visiting our Care Guide for information regarding our products. There's nothing quite like getting your hands on Wedgwood designs and seeing them with your own eyes, however we know that this isn't always possible. How the colors of products appear on our website has a lot to do with your monitor or phone screen resolution.
To help you visualize our products, we strive to provide you with the best imagery. Can you provide me with valuations for selling or insurance purposes? Unfortunately, we're unable to give valuations for any purposes for our products. We recommend that you contact your local antiques dealer to discuss this. How to identify Wedgwood stamps? We get lots of people contacting us asking 'How much is Wedgwood worth?
Due to our small team of Customer Care Advisors, we sadly don't always get the chance to search for products or patterns through back-catalogs.
If you have any questions like this, we suggest you try the following site for more information before contacting us:. Where are Wedgwood products made? For over years Wedgwood Product Design and Development has taken place in the United Kingdom, guaranteeing English authenticity and values. Today, Fiskars UK Ltd maintains exactly the same engineering excellence and proven quality control in all our owned facilities in which we produce product and continues to adhere to these world famous standards.
Like many luxury brands, we work with the best partners across the world whose skills and quality standards equal our own. To ensure that production from our manufacturing and sourcing resources mirrors all Stoke-on-Trent manufacturing activities, developments and precise tolerances for complete Customer satisfaction, Wedgwood staff from the United Kingdom transfer to or work with the teams to train, maintain and manage the production processes.
Depending on our product requirements, we will maintain production in both locations. Around the world, the vision of Wedgwood, based on the brand values of quality, craftsmanship and innovation, has not changed and continues to be absolutely English. What is Wedgwood stance on sustainability? We're constantly looking for new ways to increase the use of recycled or renewable materials in our products, reduce unnecessary packaging and be as thoughtful, efficient and sustainable as possible.
Read Fiskars Group's Sustainability Strategy and find out more about what we're doing specifically for Wedgwood on our dedicated Sustainability page. Mr Wedgwood invented and produced what remain today three of Wedgwood's most famous ceramic bodies - Queen's Ware , Black Basalt and finally Jasper Wedgwood bone china tableware graced the tables of many illustrious homes throughout the world, including the dinner service which President Theodore Roosevelt ordered for the White House.
During the s, Wedgwood's success continued and in order to increase efficiency, the fifth Josiah Wedgwood decided to build a new factory near the village of Barlaston. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today. More about China Manufacturing Royal family. How do you date Wedgwood Jasperware?
Wedgwood jasperware can often be dated by the style of potter's marks, although there are exceptions to the rules: Before Mark is "Wedgwood". Usually accompanied by other potter markings and a single letter. From to A three-letter mark represents in order, the month, the potter, and the year.
Where is the Wedgwood factory in England? Wedgwood Factory. Explore the manufacturing process in the heart of the Potteries, at Barlaston, the home of Wedgwood. How do you date Royal Worcester? From a letter system was also used to indicate the year of manufacture.
From the crown sits down to fit the circle. Royal Worcester factory marks. Where is Royal Worcester porcelain made? Worcester Royal Porcelain Company formed with Edward Phillips as major shareholder in a joint stock company.
From the company was known as Royal Worcester. Where is Royal Crown Derby made?
0コメント