Wedgwood's "Edinburg," executed here in brown transfer and softly glowing enamel colors, e...

Wedgwood's "Edinburg," executed here in brown transfer and softly glowing enamel colors, exemplifies a design strategy characteristic of the Aesthetic Movement. Rather than feature a single scene finished by a coordinating border, "Edinburg" presents a flat picture, juxtaposed scrapbook style with other elements: a pot of flowers, foliage, a floral spray and fluttering song birds. Here, however, the Japanesque effect ends; the subject of the picture is a very romantic, very European village scene.

The geometric border, however, conforms more closely to contemporary preferences for flat geometric patterns. The central horizontal band of a zig-zag stripe and half blossoms is an element shared with Wedgwood's "Mekado" border, used by the pottery in some of its most advanced Japanesque designs.

One should note how beautifully the printed elements fit the clean contours of this jug shape. The main composition with its arching floral spray complements the teardrop shape of the body. Likewise, the wide horizontal border conforms perfectly to the flared spout-less collar.

Devotees of Japanese inspired design might consider the European elements in the "Edinburg...

Devotees of Japanese inspired design might consider the European elements in the "Edinburg" pattern to represent a compromise. Let's remember, however, that Staffordshire potters, however artistic, were unlikely to abandon business and marketing concerns. Familiar scenes, and even sentimental elements like the flock of twittering birds, could provide a more comfortable entree for the hesitant consumer into the realm of radically different household design.