18th Century Soft Paste Creamware Casket Inkwell

• Creamware - Creamware, also known as "Queens Ware" is the
  
  cream-coloured English earthenware developed by Josiah Wedgwood in the 1760s.
  
  The invention of creamware was the result of experimentation in order to find a
  
  British substitute for imported Chinese porcelain, and the cream colour was
  
  considered a fault at the time. The lightweight fine white earthenware with a
  
  clean rich yellowish proved ideal for  tableware
  
  and decorative items during the 18th and 19th centuries and is still produced
  
  today.
  
  
  Creamware is made from a
  
  mixture of kaolin, feldspar, and ball clay, and is typically glazed before
  
  firing to give it its glossy finish. It was developed by British potters as a
  
  cheaper alternative to porcelain.
  
  
  At Wedgwood, Royal patronage
  
  boosted sales. In 1765 Queen Charlotte, the consort of King George III placed
  
  an order for a 12 place tea set and allowed Wedgwood to use the name
  
  "Queens Ware" for the line. In 1770 Wedgwood produced a creamware
  
  dinner service of 952 pieces supplied to Catherine II the Great of Russia.
  
  
  Other potteries such as
  
  Doulton, Neale & Co. and Spode produced smaller quantities of creamware.
  
  
  Creamware continued to be
  
  made throughout the 19th century and later.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• boxes, material or decoration - other materials 196