Now 160 pieces of the finest of these British ceramics are on display at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) until July 5, 2009. This includes the unusual shop sign, made from 43 pieces of black basalt ceramics, which weighs 800 lbs. It is thus the largest piece of black basalt ware in the world.

The story of Wedgwood ceramics begins with Josiah Wedgwood I in Burslem, Staffordshire, England. The descendant of generations of potters he began his training at age nine following the death of his father. He opened his first factory, Ivy Works, in 1759 at Burslem when he was only 29 years old. He gradually developed a distinct style of ceramic wares that pleased Queen Charlotte Sophia and she appointed him royal supplier of dinnerware.

Partly through the sale of his cream-colored Queen= s ware and in part through his marriage to his cousin Sarah Wedgwood in 1764 he financed the building of a village near Stoke-on-Trent with a model factory that became known as Etruria. The new factory, opened in 1768, boasted the most up-to-date equipment in the world. At first it produced only ornamental wares, but by 1773 Wedgwood had moved all his production facilities there.

Together with his partner, Thomas Bentley, Wedgwood discerned trends of the day in pottery, but also found novel ways to promote the products they manufactured. In Europe, they promoted their wares through English ambassadors at European courts, and from 1774 onward also through French and English language catalogs. Not only did the partners constantly improve manufacturing methods, but they developed new designs that aroused steady consumer interest. In other words, they presaged modern sales methods and consumerism.

Aside from the Queen's ware, Wedgwood also developed black basalt and jasper wares. These came about through many experiments and have remained part of the company's repertoire, although Wedgwood is now a diversified public company.

Five generations of Wedgwoods continued to guide the factory following Josiah's death in 1795. They built a new factory in Barlaston in the 1940s and closed Etruria in 1950. In 1967 the company's shares were sold publicly and quoted on the London stock Exchange. Wedgwood then also acquired a number of other potteries. Waterford Glass, in turn, purchased the Wedgwood Group in 1987 to form Waterford Wedgwood plc. This company has since acquired a number of German porcelain factories and the English ceramic manufacturing group, Royal Doulton.

In the ROM exhibit, a dinner plate from the Queen's ware, ordered by Empress Catherine II of Russia in 1770, is part of the display. Also explored are reproductions, including the famous Portland Vase, based on an original made during the reign of Roman Emperor Augustus (27 BC-AD14) of dark blue glass with an outer layer of white cut in cameo. Josiah received permission in 1783 to copy the vase from its owner, the Dowager Duchess of Portland. These ceramic replicas greatly enhanced Josiah's reputation, and the Wedgwood company continued to produce this model well into the 20^th century.

There are plenty of examples of Wedgwood ware from the Regency period (1811-20), to pieces of the later 19^th century right into the 20^th that feature Art Deco designs, and those of the very latest modern designs of the present. The modern pieces are especially appealing because they conform more to the tastes of today; they are also not just collector's pieces, they can be bought.

For would-be potters and anyone wishing to know the secrets of pottery production this exhibit also offers a film that shows production methods at Barlaston, while another visually describes the history of the company. They are definitely not to be missed, so a visit to this show—despite its small size—requires far more time than it appears on the surface.

Sadly, though, there is a lack of verve to this display, aside from the films. The objects are beautiful, depending on one's taste, but they do not entice onlookers to remain. Somehow, this display is just too staid, too distant. Again and again people walked in and soon walked out. There was nothing to hold them unless they spotted the films.

Still, let me try and entice you to stay and take the Wedgwood experience to the fullest because the ROM offers an Afternoon Tea in its c5 Restaurant Lounge with a modern take on an old tradition. This is served, of course, on Wedgwood fine china, created by the likes of Jasper Conran, Kelly Hoppen and Vera Wang. These modern pieces are to me, at least, the most exciting. Don't miss them. There still is a lot of life in old Wedgwood.