Copeland China

The Copeland porcelain company stems from Spode porcelain. When Josiah Spode of Spode porcelain passed away in 1826, his partner's son William Copeland acquired the business in partnership with Thomas Garrett. Their productions from then on were marked Copeland and Garrett.

In keeping with the popular Rococo tastes of the time, the wares that Copeland and Garrett produced were noticeably more ornate and extravagant than those previously produced by Spode. In 1846, William Copeland, along with four generations of descendants, became sole owner of the company until 1966.

As Minton's biggest competitors during the Victorian age, Copeland created some of the most remarkable ceramic wares of the time. Their emphasis on fine artistry helped them stand apart from other porcelain factories, from importing respected artists as designers to exhibiting at such prestigious events as the Great Exhibition of London in 1851. Their range of wares was impressive, as statues and busts, doorknobs, footbaths, and hotel and souvenir wares were all part of their manufacture. Many of the patterns introduced during this age were continued well into the 20th century.

Quick Facts

• Between 1833 and 1900, around 3,500 new patterns were produced, an average of ten patterns per week
• A monumental Copeland earthenware rectangular plaque, dated 1896, sold at Christie's New York in November 2003 for $13,750
• Three Copeland bone china costume plates sold at Sotheby's Olympia in July 2007 for $1,200