The hedgehog’s body and the tray below would hold soil; crocus or other bulbs would be planted and forced to bloom through the holes. It was made in 1771 by Josiah Wedgwood, founder of the Wedgwood factory, who is generally credited with the industrialization of the manufacture of pottery. It is Black Basalt, made from reddish-brown clay, which burned black in firing. It has a smooth surface, which was popular at the time We think that at some point it was painted “Wedgwood blue” to emphasize its maker. Root or bulb pots were a popular product of the Wedgwood factory and catered to the growing interest in nature and gardens in the eighteenth century. Join us on Sunday, June 9th at 2pm for a look at the toys, games, musical instruments, and hobbies (like gardening) that entertained the Jay’s before there was electricity and modern technologies.
