Josiah Wedgwood

The Industrial Revolution embraced almost every aspect of production; there were indeed few crafts that remained unaffected by this upsurge in industrial activity. The pottery industry was one among many that was revitalized and many of the changes that ensued can be attributed to Josiah Wedgwood, who opened his first china works in 1759. Wedgwood, in addition to adopting many beautiful classical and other designs, made a special study of glazes and was already known for his fine green-glazed ware. This was made to his own formula and included one-twelfth part of calcined copper. The standard formula for green glazes on pottery at that time was 'six pounds of sulphate of copper dissolved and precipitated by borax, then mixed with ten quarts of white glaze'. ⁽²³⁾