how do I clean unglazed blue pieces safely?

Warm water and a soft bristle brush usually do the trick. You'll want to avoid soaking them for long periods. If the white reliefs are particularly grubby, a weak solution of mild dish soap can help. Rinse the item thoroughly afterwards. Leave it to dry in a warm room before putting it away.

I picked up a black teapot that has a really shiny inside but is matte on the outside, what causes that difference?

That shiny interior is a standard clear glaze applied before the final firing. Potters added this to domestic basalts so the porous stoneware wouldn't absorb tea or hot water. The matte exterior is the natural fired state of the clay. They left the outside unglazed to preserve the crisp details of the engine turning and imitate ancient metalwork.

what is the difference between dip and solid?

Solid refers to clay mixed with metallic oxides so the tint runs through the entire thickness. Dip means a white clay body was washed in a liquid slip of coloured clay. The core remains white.

I have noticed some of the classical figures on plates face different ways, did they use the same moulds for everything or make new ones?

The factory kept a huge library of master moulds. Workers could take sprigs from the same cast and apply them to various shapes. Modellers frequently reworked popular figures to fit specific spaces. They might adjust an arm or reverse the orientation entirely so a pair of vases could feature figures facing each other.

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Victorian Wedgwood

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Antique Wedgwood encompasses a vast range of English ceramics produced since the mid-eighteenth century, primarily serving as high-quality domestic tableware and ornamental vases. These pieces brought classical designs and refined clay bodies into everyday homes across the globe.