Wedgwood’s life was an active and a productive one. He learned how to live, not from books, not in schools, but in doing the work his hands found to do. He was born a potter, he remained a potter, and he died a potter. He did not esteem his occupation a thing to be dropped as soon as possible, that he might be something else; or, as many persons are apt to do, that he might do nothing. Work, to him, was not only honorable, it was necessary. The old notion, that work was a curse, never entered his sound head.

It is an honorable thing that his merits were recognized while he lived; for this is rare in the heat and hurry and competition of this day of ours. Before he died, in 1795, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society, and of the Society of Antiquaries; and was recognized by a large number of people as a thorough worker and an able man. Since his death, honors have descended on his head. His “Life” has been carefully written by Mr. Jewitt and by Miss Meteyard; and Mr. Gladstone, England’s ablest man, has spoken with generous and discriminating praise of him and his works.

In many private collections, as well as in all public ones, these works are prized; and not the least interesting and valuable of these collections is that of Mr. Gladstone, now loaned to the city of Liverpool.

The prices which fine pieces of Wedgwood’s work have sold for will be seen in the following, from a sale of Mrs. Brett’s, in England, in 1864:

Plaques, white on blue ground, “Virgil reciting before Augustus,” 7½ by 18 inches £44
Five groups, infant bacchanals, 5 by 23 inches64
Basin, with Cupids and figures10

At a sale of De la Rue’s, in 1866:

Pair of two-handled seaux, with satyrs, gnomes, etc. £39 18s.
Dish, nautilus-shell9 10s.
Large bowl on foot, with boys, festoons, etc.27 6s.

Busts in black-ware sold as follows:

De Witt £17 17s.
Seneca15
Bacon10 10s.
Venus15 15s.
Cato9 10s.

At Mr. Marryat’s sale: