There is something satisfying about an object that has survived for generations.

It may have sat on a mantelpiece, been passed through a family or simply spent decades waiting for someone to appreciate it again.

Wedgwood Jasperware is one of those objects.

Its familiar blue-and-white look dates back to the 1770s, when English potter Josiah Wedgwood developed a new type of stoneware after thousands of experiments. The material could be made in several colours and was particularly suited to the detailed classical figures and scenes that became a signature of Wedgwood's designs.

The Bigger Picture

Jasperware was not simply about making pretty pottery.

Wedgwood was responding to the 18th-century fascination with ancient Greece and Rome. His jasperware was designed with Neoclassical decoration and became a fashionable interior piece of the period.

The famous pale blue associated with Wedgwood is also only part of the story. Jasperware was produced in a range of colours, including blue, green, white, black, lilac and yellow.

That combination of history, craftsmanship and recognisable design is part of what keeps Jasperware interesting to collectors today.

A Little Bit of That World in Rosebank

You don't need to be a serious collector to enjoy looking at antiques.

The Firs Antique Fair takes place on the first Sunday of every month at The Firs in Rosebank, with the current venue listing giving the hours as 10am to 4pm. The fair features antiques, vintage collectables and decorative pieces, giving visitors the chance to browse objects from different periods and styles. Entry is free.

The fair is also part of a longer-running collecting tradition in Gauteng. The Firs describes it as a monthly antique fair, while local listings describe dealers offering everything from decorative arts and jewellery to furniture, ceramics and memorabilia.

If Wedgwood catches your eye, ask dealers what they have rather than assuming every fair will have Jasperware.

Worth Knowing

If you come across an old piece that looks like Wedgwood, don't rely on the colour alone.

Jasperware was made in many colours and over many periods, and the Wedgwood name has a history stretching back more than 260 years. The V&A's Wedgwood collection includes examples dating from the 1770s onwards and documents the company's long history of design and production.

For a first-time collector, the real pleasure may simply be learning to recognise what you are looking at and hearing the story behind a piece.

The Bottom Line

Antiques offer something that mass-produced home décor cannot: a connection to another time.

You may not leave Rosebank with a valuable Wedgwood piece. You might not buy anything at all.

But a Sunday spent looking at old ceramics, jewellery, furniture and objects with stories behind them can be a surprisingly good way to slow down and see familiar things differently.

And if you do spot that unmistakable blue-and-white Jasperware, you'll now know that its story began more than 250 years ago.