Spode Porcelain

Based in Stoke-on-Trent, the Spode pottery company was founded in 1770 by Josiah Spode, who is often credited with creating one of the most successful bone china formulas. He also earned notoriety for perfecting the under-glaze blue transfer printing process. The Spode factory's earliest endeavors were stonewares and earthenwares such as creamware and pearlware.

Though both under-glaze and over-glaze blue transfer processes were already being used in the Worcester and Caughley factories by the early 1750s, it was not until 1783 that Josiah Spode created a superior method to the under-glaze blue transfer process. With the help of skilled Caughley-trained engravers, this new method involved engraving a design on a copper plate and printing it onto gummed tissue. Finished with a special glaze recipe, the black-blue cobalt appeared more dazzling than ever before. This development led to Spode's popular Blue Italian line in 1816, which remains in production today.

In 1833, the business was succeeded by William Copeland and Thomas Garrett, who continued using the Spode name. The Copeland and Garrett years of 1833-1847 are often referred to as Late Spode. After 1847, the business continued as W.T. Copeland and Sons through 1970. After this, the business continued under the name Spode Ltd. In 2006, Spode merged with Royal Worcester. Both Spode and Royal Worcester were acquired by the Portmeirion Group in 2009.

Quick Facts

• There is a Spode Museum in Stoke-on-Trent housing a collection of two centuries of Spode manufacture
• An extensive Spode stone china dinner service set was sold at Christie's London in November 2013 for $36,225
• A Spode 1166 pattern miniature teapot and cover, circa 1820, sold at Sotheby's London in May 2014 for $1,992