Solon Economou

Lord Wedgewood: a Cape Codder remembers

You've probably all read the headlines by now.  The historic and world-famous producers of Wedgewood ceramic ware and Waterford crystal have just this week joined the hundreds of other firms worldwide which have been hit by the current business slowdown:

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Waterford Wedgewood goes into administration

The latest luxury company to hit trouble is Waterford Wedgewood.  The Dublin-based company announced on Monday that 10 British units and four businesses in Ireland have been placed into administration after running out of money and failing to find a buyer.

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Wedgewood, the British ceramics company, was founded in 1759 by Josiah Wedgewood.  Waterford, the Irish crystal company, was founded in 1783.

A while ago I had the pleasure of meeting the current Lord Wedgewood in Colonial Williamsburg (CW), Virginia.  CW was opening a grand exhibit of their collection of Wedgewood ceramic ware, dating from colonial days to the present.  Lord Wedgewood and his guests were invited from across the pond.  So was I.  I had been a volunteer at CW when I lived there and was active in helping with visitors to the Dewitt-Wallace Gallery, where the event was being held.

The reception was a black tie affair, and, yes, I actually wore my tux.  And there was Lord Wedgewood, resplendent in his tux and...and...magenta velvet slippers.  We were introduced and talked, and I had a hell of a time keeping my eyes off his feet. 

I later learned that the British upper crust had taken to wearing fancy slippers with their fancy dress and that it was sort of de rigeur. 

After some small talk and a little escargot and a lot of champagne, an elegant elderly lady came up to me and took my arm.  She was wearing a magnificent dress and magnificent pearls, and the only thing missing was one of those magnificent long eyeglass holders in her hand.  But one hand held champagne, the other held me.

"I say," she whispered, "I understand you're Greek."

"Yes," I said.

"I have a Greek joke for you," she said.

When she began, I did not have the heart to tell her I had already heard the joke and wondered if this prim and proper octogenarian would actually come through with the rather ribald punchline amongst this gathering of nobility and grand houhahs.

So she told me about the Greek who walked into a diner and got a Chinese waiter.

"How may I help you?" asked the waiter.

"Eggs and fried rice," replied the Greek.

The waiter turned toward the kitchen and yelled, "EGGS AND FLIED LICE!"

The next day the Greek returned and took the same booth in order to get the Chinese waiter.

"How may I help you" asked the waiter.

"Eggs and flied lice," chortled the Greek.

This went on for a month, the Greek continuously taunting the Chinese waiter.  One day the Greek went off on vacation, and the Chinese waiter hurried down to his nearest Berlitz language school to learn how to pronounce English properly.

When the Greek returned, the waiter asked, "How may I help you?"

"Eggs and flied lice," chortled the Greek.

The waiter looked at him calmly and said, "Sir, that's 'eggs and fried rice'...YOU FL------ GLEEK PL---!"

What I remember most were Lord Wedgewood's velvet slippers and that elegant octogenarian, without hesitation, blurting out the punchline.

Now whoever said the Brits were stodgy?

I hate to see Wedgewood go under.  You who own Wedgewood or Waterford pieces will soon be holding a piece of history.  From 1759 to today has been a long time, and it seems like another era passing.