Edme

The most aristocratic of Wedgwood's patterns, Edme dates back over a century and is characterised by sophisticated Georgian shapes and a design motif drawn from Wedgwood's original 18th century archives.

The collection has an earthenware body, and features a smoothly harmonious laurel motif.Perhaps Edme is the most iconic of Wedgwood’s shapes. It has been in production for over a century and it embodies Wedgwood’s history and success.

Edme is made of creamware or queensware, the names most commonly used in English for cream coloured earthenware, we will stick with creamware. Creamware was not invented, but certainly perfected and popularised by Josiah Wedgwood in the mid 18th century.

By doing so, he was looking to compete with European porcelain production. Creamware is not porcelain, the source material and process are very different, as is the final product. It is made of white clay with a white lead glaze. Wedgwood’s first creamware was commercially somewhat successful, but it only became truly popular after Queen Charlotte ordered a tea set in 1765. This commission cemented Wedgwood’s reputation and made creamware the most popular type of pottery in Britain.

Edme was made for a long time, Wedgwood actively added items to the original list of items issued in 1908. It comes as no surprise that the list of different items is quite long.

The stylized, embossed ribbing of the elegant Wedgwood Edme design is reminiscent of the ridges of a clam shell, harking back to Josiah Wedgwood's love of shell collecting. Edme dinnerware remained in active production for nearly a century - this is a true tableware icon!