Button c. late 18th century

This button was made by the Wedgwood manufactory. It's made of Jasperware, a type of stoneware, with sprigging – that is, relief decoration – and a metal rim. The pale blue background and neoclassical figures are characteristic of Wedgwood's designs, which found popularity in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. But this wasn't just a matter of taste. Josiah Wedgwood was an astute businessman, who pioneered modern marketing techniques like showrooms and traveling salesmen. The repetitive, detail-oriented work of sprigging was often divided among many workers in the factory, with specialization allowing for more efficient production. Wedgwood was, in a sense, one of the first to grasp the potential of the division of labor. He was eager to apply innovative methods to the production of ceramics, blurring the line between art and industry. This button reminds us that even the smallest objects can reveal larger stories about social change and the industrial revolution.