Rich glossy black pottery made in the first part of the 18th century in Jackfield, Shropshire. Made with red clay, it was glazed with cobalt and then heated to such a high temperature that the blue of the cobalt turns to black. The pottery is glossy black, achieved by taking the smoke from the firing process and channel it back in kiln, thereby infusing the glaze with carbon.
True Jackfield pottery is high quality, with fine designs in gold. As with most beautiful things, there were many knock-offs. While production of Jackfield pottery ended by 1800 or so, the reproductions continued to be produced.
