President Reagan Wedgwood Blue Dish

Late 20th Century/Barlaston, England

Josiah Wedgwood established his famous pottery works in Staffordshire, England, in 1759, eventually perfecting the fine-grained, unglazed stoneware known as jasperware in the late 1770s. This distinctive ceramic medium typically featured white classical reliefs applied against a contrasting colored ground, most famously the signature pale Wedgwood blue. Over the centuries, the company expanded its repertoire from 18th-century classical motifs to include portraits of modern statesmen, royalty, and historical figures.

Commemorative pieces honoring political figures became especially popular during the 20th century as a way to mark presidencies, elections, and national milestones. Wedgwood produced various limited-edition items featuring American presidents, utilizing their traditional jasperware techniques to create collectible tributes. These commemorative issues combined the historic English pottery tradition with modern political memorabilia, creating enduring keepsakes for collectors.