Wade Ceramics
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Wade Ceramics Ltd manufacture porcelain and earthenware in their factory in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England.
The company was established in 1810 by Henry Hallam and produced ceramic industrial fittings. The company moved to Burslem and it was taken over by John Wade in 1867. John Wade started his own company in 1887 called Wade & Co.
By the 1940s there were three Wade pottery factories owned by brothers William, Albert J and George Wade, who were John Wade's three nephews. A fourth factory was started in the 1950's in Ireland.
Wade has become a household name in Britain and America following their manufacture in the 1950's of Whimsies, which are small solid porcelain animal figures.
Over the years, Wade has produced many licensed pieces based on popular TV shows, comic books, Disney films and more recently the Mr Men books and Pokemon.
Sadly, the quality displayed on early Wade pieces has diminished with most modern items being chunky, poorly detailed and often disproportionate.