Jane Austen started to write "Northanger Abbey" in 1798.  It was sold to a publisher in Bath for £10 in 1803 but as he felt it was a bit out of fashion with its Gothic subject, put it in a desk draw, and there it sat until finally published, posthumously, in 1818.

Synopsis -:

Jane's character, Catherine, goes to Bath for the season, the guest of Mr and Mrs Allen.  In Bath she is introduced to the rather eccentric General Tilney and his son and daughter, Henry and Elanor.  Catherine is invited to stay at the Tilney's family home, Northanger Abbey.

In this scene, Jane has Catherine seated at the breakfast table on the first morning of her visit -:

"The elegance of the breakfast set forced itself on Catherine's notice when they were seated at table; and, luckily, it had been the General's choice.  He was enchanted by her approbation of his taste, confessed it to be neat and simple, thought it right to encourage the manufacture of his country; and for his part, to his uncritical palate, the tea was as well flavored from the clay of Staffordshire, as from that of Dresden or Sèvres. But this was quite an old set, purchased two years ago. The manufacture was much improved since that time; he had seen some beautiful specimens when last in town, and had he not been perfectly without vanity of that kind, might have been tempted to order a new set.  He trusted, however, that an opportunity might ere long occur of selecting one" - Northanger Abbey

The breakfast service so admired by Catherine was undoubtedly a Staffordshire creamware service and almost certainly a Wedgwood "neat and simple" breakfast set.  At this time, it was simply necessary to dress your table with fashionable creamware, especially in Bath, the very centre of fashion! 

It is completely impossible to speak of creamware without first speaking of Josiah Wedgwood (1730 – 1795).  Wedgwood was born with pottery clay in his blood!  Born into a family of Staffordshire potters and as was the 18th century system, was apprenticed in the potting shop at age 9.  He was by nature a business man, shrewd and able to judge the direction of the market.

He had a superb eye for design, was both innovative and inventive and a marketing genius. He served his seven year apprenticeship and in 1758 opened his own factory, then finally, in 1769, opening his famous Etruria factory.

A very charming pair of late 18th century, English creamware urn shaped table lamps. The lamps of neo-classic style, standing on integral square based plinths.

The square bases faux painted in a blue-grey enamel in emulation of marble.  The urns with sprigged on deep swags of green foliage and roses, the swags suspended from orange pins. A very stylish pair of Georgian creamware table lamps, so reflective of this elegant period.

Circa 1790             Overall height (including shades) 16"/40.5cm

Wedgwood is credited with the invention of creamware about 1770.  The newly developed creamware was a fine, light, white earthenware, combined with a cream coloured lead glaze, which produced a bright, sharp and clear, or, tight glaze, as it is known to potters.  The glaze was so pure and clear that the pottery needed no further decoration to be appreciated.

But Wedgwood did not stop there and creamware with its smooth clear glaze was soon being produced with tasteful, delicately painted over glaze enamels in the neo-classic style, so fashionable in the late 18th century, or, applied with over glaze transfer prints in sepia, black, blue and puce.

Maurice Robertson