The Wedgwood Fairyland lustre range by Daisy Makeig-Jones

‘Fairyland’ lustre was designed by Daisy Makeig-Jones (1881-1945) and made by the famous Wedgwood factory in England from 1915 to 1929.

It was a great success at the time, selling well in the United States as well as in the UK. At the time, Wedgwood was struggling to sell its more traditional china and porcelain and the romantic innovative, fairytale designs by Makeig-Jones’ proved to be very much in vogue. The First World War had just ended and it was a time when people wanted enchantment, escapism and a sense of magic.

The colours of the Fairyland range are fantastically rich, and are enhanced by the lustre. Fantasy scenes of fairies, gnomes, elves and goblins are shown and the designs have romantic, evocative titles such as ‘Fairy Gondola’, ‘Butterfly Women’, 'Woodland Elves V - Woodland Bridge, Mermaid and Poplar Trees' and ‘Leap-frogging Elves’.

By the mid-twenties, however, fashion had changed again and interest in the Fairyland lustre range waned. In 1929, Wedgwood stopped making it. Today, though, all things magical and fantastical are back in vogue and Makeig-Jones’ fairytale work is now hugely sought after. Good, larger pieces can go for many thousands of dollars. Fortunately though, the smaller pieces are still accessible - just about!

Since it became of interest again, many Art Deco exhibitions have featured examples of Fairyland lustre including one at London's Victoria and Albert Museum, in September, 1990 (you can see a jar from the V&V collection HERE). The Long Beach Museum of Art had an exhibition of "Wedgwood Fairyland and Other Lustres" in September, 2001; and an exhibition solely devoted to Makeig-Jones' work was staged at the Collection of Maurice Kawashima at the San Diego Museum of Art in 2005.