Wedgwood (British, founded 1759)

Wedgwood, otherwise known as Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, is a company specialising in the manufacture of fine china, porcelain and luxury accessories that was founded by Josiah Wedgwood, an English potter, in 1759. Wedgwood 

The Wedgwood manufactory carried out many experiments to finesse their porcelain and the glaze, and it was with this that the firm achieved early success. After securing a royal warrant in 1765, the Wedgwood manufactory went from strength to strength, and perhaps their most important innovation was Jasper Ware.

Thought of as the most revolutionary invention in the history of ceramics, except for that of porcelain, Jasper Ware undertakes colour absolutely evenly through its surface and has a matte, unglazes finish. One of the most famous shades is a pale blue, which came to be known as Wedgwood Blue, which would often be ornamented with white reliefs and designs, often in the Greek classical style.

Wedgwood is now an internationally acclaimed manufacturer of porcelain and Jasper Ware. Porcelain by Wedgwood is some of the most widely collected and valuable in the world.