Gottfried Wagener

1831-1891maleGottfried Wagener was from Hanover, Germany. After majoring in science and graduating from a German university, he traveled to Nagasaki in 1868. There, in 1870, he was invited by Lord Nabeshima of Saga to work at the Arita Porcelain Production Factory, where he contributed by teaching scientific methods to create glazes and also by experimenting with coal-fueled kilns. He later moved to Tokyo, where he held successive positions at several different schools teaching physics and chemistry. On the side, he was also involved with administrative duties for exhibitions at the first 1873 Vienna World’s Fair. Beginning with Tokyo, he traveled