V&A Wedgwood Archive Uncovers the Lives Behind Victorian Majolica

The V&A Wedgwood Collection Archive, which contains over 100,000 documents spanning 260 years of Wedgwood's history, has revealed two employees from the Majolica & Tile department. Charlotte Cartlidge, a Paintress born in 1849 in Tinkers Clough, began her career at 21 and dedicated 52 years to the company. By 1911, census records identified her as a 'Majolica Paintress,' and her last payment was recorded on 28 June 1922, totaling 1 pound, 16 shillings, and 9 pence. She passed away on 12 August 1922 at the age of 73. Harry Bentley, born in August 1875, started working at 13 in 1888. In 1938, he was among eight long-serving staff members who placed signed vases in the foundation of the Barlaston factory. The Staffordshire Sentinel noted his 49 years of service, and he died on Christmas Day 1945 at 70. Both individuals are featured in the 1898 Etruscan Breadwinners album by Harry Barnard (1862–1933). Wedgwood initiated majolica production in the 1860s, about ten years after Mintons Ltd introduced the lead-glazed ware at the 1851 Great Exhibition, documenting over 4,000 designs in its pattern books. Production continued in limited quantities until the 1940s. This research is part of the Majolica Project, supported by the Majolica International Society.