Truly and affectionately yours,
J. WEDGWOOD
Etruria, 14th Feb. 1774
The Relationships between the various members of this family that have been mentioned in the course of this history are shown on the following outline pedigree:—
As soon as he was able to afford a factory of his own, he went back to Burslem, and in 1759 he hired, from his uncles John and Thomas Wedgwood of the Big House, a factory known as the Ivy House Works. Here, or at the “Brick House” Works which he hired in 1762,[85] he made cauliflower, cream colour, and, later, black basalt ware. There worked for him at the Ivy House Works a first cousin, Thomas Wedgwood, who afterwards became his partner in the production of “useful” ware.
A great number of the letters of Josiah Wedgwood have survived, and they show the chief cause of his success to have been his restless passion for experiment and novelty, coupled with an almost American love for the extension of business—particularly profitable business. He was first a skilful potter, secondly a pushing man of business, and only thirdly, perhaps, a great artist. When he broke with his stick some imperfect vase, saying, “That won’t do for Josiah Wedgwood,” it was not because the delinquent vase offended his taste, but because it might damage his reputation and the sale of his wares. He wanted perfection, and he got perfection; but he wanted it to sell, as a business proposition. And when we find him wondering whether he can keep up the price of his common cream plates to four shillings a dozen, while the other potters have brought their price for the same plates down to two shillings a dozen,[86] then we catch a glimpse of how well it paid.