An alchemist imprisoned for failing to make gold accidentally discovered how to create porcelain for European royalty.
As heard by us
A plate becomes a map of trade, taste, and memory.
A cupboard of mixed crockery opens onto a wider history of trade, taste, and family memory. The episode starts with plates and bowls, then traces them back to the so-called precious white gold of China, the medieval search to uncover its ingredients, and Wedgwood's push to make…
Why you'd press play
Press play if you want a plate to open into history, trade, and family memory.
Listen to the show on