Blue and white jasperware cups and saucers for Wedgwood

A collection of blue and white jasperware designed by Lucie Rie for Wedgwood (1963), consisting of 18 cups and 3 saucers: 8 coffee cans, 3 flared coffee cups, 4 tapered teacups, 3 saucers.

In an interview with the New York Times in 1954, Rie mentioned that she would like a factory for producing her cups and saucers, in addition to keeping her small workroom. 10 years later Wedgwood invited Rie to design cups and saucers in jasperware. She created 18 cups and 3 saucers, all different to one another. Unfortunately, the Wedgwood designers felt it would not be possible to reproduce her work.

Rie was deeply disappointed with their response and chose to keep her samples, rather than be paid the 25 guineas fee for making them. They remained in a cabinet in her workshop for the rest of her life. They were eventually included in a 1997 Bonhams exhibition and auction of the work that had remained in her showroom and workroom.

An agreement was made with Rie’s beneficiaries that the Wedgwood designs would remain together, and the collection was offered to the Wedgwood Museum. They, and subsequent Wedgwood dealers, were only prepared to acquire one cup and saucer, until it was decided to offer the jasperware to a public collection. The first choice was the Sainsbury Centre, and Robert and Lisa Sainsbury readily accepted. [1]

Katharine Malcolm, November 2021

[1] Cyril Frankel, Modern Pots (Norwich: University of East Anglia, 2000), pp. 77-78.