Public appeal to save Wedgwood collection for nation

A public appeal to raise £2.74 million to save the Wedgwood collection was launched today.

The collection, one of the most important industrial archives in the world, is made up of 80,000 objects from the past 250 years. They include ceramics, manuscripts, letters, pattern books and photographs.

The appeal follows five years of negotiations to keep the archive together. When the Staffordshire firm went bust in 2009 its debts transferred to its museum, which owns the collection, because the two were linked through a pension fund — putting the treasures at risk. Stephen Deuchar, director of the Art Fund charity which is leading the rescue mission, said they had tried all means possible to save the collection before turning to the public for help.

Most of the £15.75 million needed has already been raised, through private donors, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Art Fund itself. If saved, the collection will be given to the Victoria and Albert Museum but will stay in Staffordshire as a visitor attraction.

Tim Reeve, the V&A’s chief operating officer, said: “It would be a tragedy for the collection to be dispersed and we sincerely hope the funds can be raised to secure it for the nation.”