Spode is one of the oldest and most distinguished of the great pottery companies of Staffordshire, the time-honored home of English ceramics. The firm’s blue and white bone china transferware is a timeless classic. Spode dishes compose the sort of elegant dinner service that most of us envision on a traditional holiday table.
The company was established in 1770 in Stoke-on-Trent by Josiah Spode, a friend and neighbor of another estimable English ceramist, Josiah Wedgwood. The Wedgwood firm first came to prominence for its tableware, which quickly gained favor in aristocratic households throughout Britain and Europe.
Spode was particularly known for two technical achievements in the firm’s early decades. The first was to develop a standard formula for the making of bone china — a type of porcelain (made with a mixture of bone ash, minerals and clay) that is dazzlingly white and so strong it can be used to create very thin translucent plates and vessels.
The other advancement was to perfect the making of transferware. That process involves the transfer of pictorial images inked on tissue paper — such as the garden scenery in the famous Willow dish patterns — onto ceramics that are then sealed with a glaze.
From the 1820s onward, Spode enjoyed tremendous success both in Britain and elsewhere owing to the beauty and vitality of its decorative imagery. By some counts, Spode created more than 40,000 patterns in the 19th century.
In 1833, following the sudden death of Josiah Spode III, business partner W. T. Copeland took over the company and changed its name to Copeland Spode (it later changed again, this time to W. T. Copeland and Sons). Collectors regard Copeland-marked pieces as Spode china. The Spode brand was revived in 1970.
Many favorite Spode patterns — among them Blue Italian, Indian Tree, Greek and Woodland — date to the company’s early years. Spode’s most popular pattern, Christmas Tree, was introduced in 1938.
Prices for antique and vintage Spode china vary widely, based on the size of the service, its condition and the pattern. An antique dinner service for 12 people or more, in good repair and complete with cups and serving dishes, will generally cost between $10,000 and $20,000. Such Spode services become heirlooms — a proud and timeless addition to a family’s table. And as you will see on these pages, Spode’s rich and varied wares offer a visual feast in and of themselves.
Find Spode serveware, ceramics and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
Spode Hand-painted Rose Plate, English, 19th Century
By Spode
Located in Southampton, NY
Spode Porcelain Hand-painted Rose Plate, English, 19th Century Marked underside 2/183 in yellow From a Private Collection in Manhattan. Good overall condi...
Porcelain
Antique English Neoclassical Porcelain Plate attributed to Coalport
By Coalport Porcelain
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique English Neoclassical porcelain plate Attributed to Coalport. Decorated throughout with rich gilding, and red, green,...
Porcelain
$284Sale Price|35% Off
H 0.8 in Dm 8.5 in
Fine Newhall Porcelain Plate Hand Painted Pattern 2050, Georgian circa 1820
By New Hall
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a beautiful desert plate by Newhall, dating to the turn of the early 19th century, Georgian period, circa 1820. The piece is very well potted on a low foot and a moulded basket work border to the cavetto. The plate is finely hand decorated over-glaze with hand painted pattern...
Porcelain
$274Sale Price|20% Off
H 1 in Dm 9.63 in
Antique Spode Dinner Plate, Chinoiserie Pattern No. 2283, Circa 1820
By Josiah Spode
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very beautiful hand painted dinner plate, produced by the Spode factory in the late Georgian period, Circa 1820. This is pattern number 2283, the chinoiserie decoration ...
Ironstone
Antique Early Coalport Botanical Porcelain Display Plate, circa 1820
Located in Nottingham, GB
A magnificent early 19th-century Coalport porcelain botanical display plate dating to circa 1820 and produced during the John Rose period. The plate features a rich cobalt-blue grou...
Porcelain
$197Sale Price|20% Off
H 0.9 in Dm 8.5 in
Early 19th Century Plate Porcelain Finely Hand Painted, Staffordshire UK Ca 1825
By Staffordshire
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is an early 19th century porcelain Plate or desert dish with a molded wavy edge to the rim, made by one of the quality Staffordshire, English potteries and dating from the George 111rd period, circa 1820 to 1830. This piece is unmarked to the base but it is very well hand painted and we believe it is from one of the high quality English makers such as Coalport, Davenport or Samuel Alcock. Either way this piece is a beautifully hand decorated with a striking, bold and very colourful pattern. Overall a beautifully hand painted early English porcelain...
Porcelain
English Porcelain Plate, Coalport, circa 1800
Located in New York, NY
In the "Dragon in Compartment" pattern.
Porcelain
$241Sale Price|20% Off
H 0.75 in Dm 9.38 in
Dinner Plate by Copeland Late Spode in Chinoiserie Pattern No. 4089, circa 1850
By Copeland Spode
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a beautiful plate in the Chinese inspired pattern number 4089, produced by the Copeland - Late Spode factory and made of earthenware pottery called Pearl-ware, in the mid 19th century, circa 1850. This plate is well potted with a recessed rim. The pattern is transfer printed under-glaze in cobalt blue, then carefully hand painted in bold coloured enamels over-glaze in Gilt Heightened, Rare Pattern Number '4089' which Depicts Oriental Flowers including Bamboo, Peonies and Prunus Blossom in a garden setting with insects. Similar plates of this period are shown in Steven Smith's book called Spode and Copeland, published by Schiffer. The plate is fully marked to the base, with a transfer printed Copeland Late Spode...
Pottery
Antique French Early 19th Century Sèvres Plate, circa 1820-1830
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French early 19th century Sèvres plate, circa 1820-1830. FPR007.
Porcelain
Paris Plate, 19th Century French Porcelain
Located in Lantau, HK
Rare and beautiful hand painted porcelain, marked for "Denuelle" The plate depicts a bell flower in the center with a flower wreath on the border delicately painted with vibrant colo...
Porcelain
Hand Painted Scalloped French Plate /Bowl , 19th Century
Located in Ross, CA
19th century hand painted deep scalloped plate / bowl made in France.
Ceramic
19th Century Wedgwood English Majolica Platter
By Wedgwood
Located in Ross, CA
Antique platter made in England by Wedgwood between 1879 and 1882. The yellow weaved platter is a bonnet shape with ribbon, flowers and bows as feet, it is called the "Kate Greenway"...
Ceramic
Minton English Majolica Plate, c.1860
Located in Ross, CA
Hand painted vibrant green majolica wall plate made in England by Minton, date stamped to 1860. The plate has a latticework basket weave rim with an alternating fan pattern in the c...
Ceramic
19th Century Nevers French Faience Hand Painted Plate
Located in Ross, CA
A late 19th century Nevers French faience pate, hand painted with flowers and the words " Mirabeau Mort Le 10 Avril 1791" at the center, they translate t...
Ceramic
Coalport Dinner Plates-C. 1910 Set of 12
By Coalport Porcelain
Located in Ross, CA
Large set of Coalport dinner plates with a pink edge with gold scalloped trim. The plates were made in England around 1910. The stamp on the back of each plate was used between 18...
Porcelain
French Majolica Plate by Onnaing, c. 1900
By Onnaing
Located in Ross, CA
Antique majolica decorative plate made by Onnaing in France in the late 19th, early 20th century. The Art Nouveau style plate features birds and berries.
Ceramic
