Enoch Wedgwood (Tunstall) Ltd | Gold Medallion | 18-Piece Tea Service | Circa 1960s–1970s

A set that commits entirely to the 1960s without apology — and carries it off.

Enoch Wedgwood (Tunstall) Ltd operated from the Unicorn Pottery in Tunstall, Staffordshire, founded in 1835 — a date the mark records with some pride. The company is entirely separate from the Wedgwood of Barlaston and is often confused with it; the Tunstall unicorn mark exists specifically to establish the firm's independent heritage. By the mid-twentieth century the pottery was producing mid-market earthenware aimed squarely at the domestic and export trade, and Gold Medallion is a confident example of their output from the period: a two-tone design in warm honey amber and white, leaning on basketweave moulding and a restrained gilt transfer rather than floral decoration.

The teapot is the large oval form with a low, wide-bodied profile, a swept handle, and a straight tapering spout. The body is white earthenware with an all-over basketweave moulded texture; the lid is fully glazed in honey amber with the same basketweave relief and a faceted amber knop. A horizontal band of gold transfer ornament encircles the lower body: alternating circular medallions composed of concentric foliate rings, separated by paired acanthus scroll motifs. The cups are the straight-sided cylindrical form in white with the same basketweave moulding and gold medallion and scroll frieze; the saucers are glazed entirely in honey amber with the basketweave relief; the side plates are white with the basketweave moulding and a single large medallion transfer at the centre. The milk jug is the baluster form in all-over honey amber glaze with basketweave moulding; the open sugar bowl is the straight-sided bucket form in amber with basketweave moulding and amber interior.

The white earthenware elements — teapot body, cups, and side plates — are in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or crazing. The amber-glazed elements (teapot lid, saucers, milk jug, and sugar bowl) show fine age crazing consistent with the earthenware body and amber glaze combination; this is a characteristic of this glaze type and does not affect structural integrity or display quality. No chips or cracks on any piece.

Key Details:

• Maker: Enoch Wedgwood (Tunstall) Ltd, England
• Pattern: Gold Medallion
• Shape: Large oval teapot; cylindrical cups; amber basketweave saucers; white basketweave side plates; baluster milk jug; bucket sugar bowl
• Backstamp: Gold Medallion / Enoch Wedgwood (Tunstall) Ltd / England / Trade Mark / Founded in 1835 / unicorn device
• Pieces: 18 — teapot with lid, milk jug, open sugar bowl, 5 cups, 5 saucers, 5 side plates
• Material: Earthenware
• Period: Circa 1960s–1970s
• Decoration: Two-tone honey amber and white; basketweave moulded relief throughout; gold medallion and acanthus scroll transfer on white elements; plain amber glaze on saucers, jug, sugar bowl, and lid
• Condition: Very good — excellent on white elements; fine age crazing on amber-glazed pieces, consistent with glaze type; no chips or cracks on any piece
• Buyer profile: Mid-century design collector; retro kitchen enthusiast; buyer seeking a complete and functional period tea service with strong visual identity

Tunstall earthenware from this period was made to be used, not displayed — and this set has somehow avoided both fates.