Savoy is a shape modelled from Savoy cabbage leaves and was very popular from the end of the 1800s. The shape was registered with the British Patent Office with number 248670 on 30th January 1895.
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| Catalogue page, Savoy, c1900 |
A huge range of items, both decorative and useful, was made. A page from a catalogue shows table centrepieces, sweetmeat trays, comports, cruet sets, butter dishes, jardinières and teapots. The shape was produced in Spode's beautifully white bone china.
As well as being available plain some patterns were produced on the shape which included Bridal Rose, pattern number Y2788 of 1931*; Dresden Rose (blue) Y2945 of 1931; Dresden Rose (crimson) Y2958 also of 1932 and Forget-Me-Not Y2999. A later pattern of 1969 was called Savoy and had the addition of a gold edge with pattern number Y8143.
The shape was discontinued sometime in the mid-1970s although very occasionally reintroduced and was part for the inspiration for New England pattern in 2003.
*The name Bridal Rose was not applied to wares shipped to Canada because Rosenthal had already registered that name there. Spode's Bridal Rose was known as Savoy Rose but was not backstamped as such. The centre was taken from Billingsley Rose pattern and was printed and then handpainted, until 1968 when it was converted to silkscreen.
Also see Spode and Cabbage on my Spode History blog.
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| Savoy cabbage, inspiration for the Spode shape design |
Savoy ('modern' pattern)
There is also a another Savoy pattern, of the late 20th century, produced at Spode, on bone china. It is not associated with the cabbage shaped ware. It has pattern number Y8563 introduced in 1990.
Seasons pattern
Seasons pattern was introduced in 1837 - the year Queen Victoria came to the throne.
The first pattern numbers recorded were B454 and 5803. Patterns prefixed with B denote a pattern decorated completely underglaze.
The Seasons pattern name derives as much from the border with 4 cherubs - Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter - as from the centres which were sometimes named with a month or a season. However there is no evidence that the name Seasons was used when the pattern was first designed. This seems to be a later name and a 20th century backstamp on a copper plate used to print the design refers to the pattern as 'Spode's Seasons'.
This is a multi scene pattern with different centres within the cherub border for different items in a service. The centres for the design featured places such as The Alps, Florence, Edinburgh (rare), Italian Garden, Windsor Castle, Vintage of Sorrento and the Kremlin. Sometimes the backstamp included the name of the scene. Confusingly this pattern is also sometime referred to as Italian Garden which is just one of the designs used for the centre in the whole series.
There are also engravings of smaller floral arrangements which were probably included as secondary designs on large objects such as soup tureens.
There are many versions in different colours and with different borders too, such as 'Seasons Star', for which the oldest known pattern number is B473. It has the same centres as Seasons but a variation of the Star border. The number B736 occurs on some of the copper plates but this is actually the pattern number for the border only - i.e. no Seasons centre design.
This pattern was reintroduced as one of the Victorian Dresser Plates in the Spode 'Blue Room Collection' in the late 1990s. It was also used on the 'Signature' range pierced footed cake stand in 2004.
More images in black and white taken form the copper plates can be found here and see also my blogpost Spode, January and Winter.
Seven Wonders of the World
This pattern is also known as 'Wonders of the World' and simply 'Wonders'. It has registered number 317544, which registered the design with the British Patent Office on 20th April 1898. It continued to be made well into the 20th century.
The pattern was available in several versions all featuring the 'seven wonders' which are listed in the Spode archive as:
Seasons pattern
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| Plate, Seasons, with Italian Garden centre, printed in brown & hand coloured |
The first pattern numbers recorded were B454 and 5803. Patterns prefixed with B denote a pattern decorated completely underglaze.
The Seasons pattern name derives as much from the border with 4 cherubs - Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter - as from the centres which were sometimes named with a month or a season. However there is no evidence that the name Seasons was used when the pattern was first designed. This seems to be a later name and a 20th century backstamp on a copper plate used to print the design refers to the pattern as 'Spode's Seasons'.
This is a multi scene pattern with different centres within the cherub border for different items in a service. The centres for the design featured places such as The Alps, Florence, Edinburgh (rare), Italian Garden, Windsor Castle, Vintage of Sorrento and the Kremlin. Sometimes the backstamp included the name of the scene. Confusingly this pattern is also sometime referred to as Italian Garden which is just one of the designs used for the centre in the whole series.
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| Backstamp including the name of the centre Italian Garden |
There are many versions in different colours and with different borders too, such as 'Seasons Star', for which the oldest known pattern number is B473. It has the same centres as Seasons but a variation of the Star border. The number B736 occurs on some of the copper plates but this is actually the pattern number for the border only - i.e. no Seasons centre design.
This pattern was reintroduced as one of the Victorian Dresser Plates in the Spode 'Blue Room Collection' in the late 1990s. It was also used on the 'Signature' range pierced footed cake stand in 2004.
More images in black and white taken form the copper plates can be found here and see also my blogpost Spode, January and Winter.
Seven Wonders of the World
This pattern is also known as 'Wonders of the World' and simply 'Wonders'. It has registered number 317544, which registered the design with the British Patent Office on 20th April 1898. It continued to be made well into the 20th century.
The pattern was available in several versions all featuring the 'seven wonders' which are listed in the Spode archive as:
The Great Temple of Diana
The Statue of Jupiter Olympus (see image)
The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus
The Colossus of Rhodes
The Pyramids of Egypt
The Walls and Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The Pharos of Alexandria
The pattern was produced with an assortment of borders and on different shapes The plain prints (patterns in one colour) did not have pattern numbers. They were printed from hand engraved copper plates which also served as the record. The centres are known with a stylised honeysuckle border, found in classical ornamentation, and with the border from another famous Spode pattern, Tower.
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| Gadroon shape plate featuring The Statue of Jupiter Olympus, Tower border, c1950s |
Pattern numbers for this pattern which are most usual are:
2/4506 of 1898 - on Gadroon shape with Tower border (see image)
S2753 of 1954 - on Mansard shape
S2757 of 1954 - on Mansard shape
S2984 of 1955 - on Gadroon with undecorated border
Shape Books
Spode's 1820 Shape Book is quite famous. There is more than one copy. One is in the Spode archive. Another is in the Wintherthur collection and is available to browse online at Spode Exhibition Online.
Spode's 1820 Shape Book is quite famous. There is more than one copy. One is in the Spode archive. Another is in the Wintherthur collection and is available to browse online at Spode Exhibition Online.
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| Spode Exhibition Online 1820 Shape Book Index |
There are other shape books in the Spode archive dating from 1817 up to the 20th century. Those from the very early 1800s are similar, but not the same; one is a personal book rather than a company book. Those from later dates vary greatly. Many later ones contain photographs rather than drawings. by the time the company closed in 2009 many new designs were recorded digitally. These latter are not in the Spode archive.
Shapes
Plates from a catalogue of c1928
Shapes
Plates from a catalogue of c1928
Some of the designs from Spode were known as sheet patterns. A sheet pattern is a design which is not engraved to specifically ‘fit’ different objects. Perhaps only three or four engravings are needed for a whole range of tableware and toilet ware.
There are two main types of sheet pattern.
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| Fig 1 Sunflower pattern (detail) introduced c1813 |
The most common type of sheet pattern though is one which gives a uniform appearance. Some examples are Marble, Parsley, Star sheet, Fibre sheet, Thyme sheet (of which there seems to be two versions), Shagreen or Broth, and Moss Sprigs.
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| Fig 2 Cream tureen (detail), pattern 3716, Tumbledown Dick c1823 |
These sheets could be used on their own printed in a plain colour. Or they could be used as a 'background' to sprays of flowers or birds etc. An example of this type of pattern is Tumbledown Dick, produced in several versions, (in Fig 2) with Marble sheet. This is pattern number 3716 of about 1823. The decorating technique is complicated.
First the main pattern, in this case the bird and flowers, is printed from an engraved copper plate and then transferred in position on the pot. The transfer paper was removed, either by peeling or washing off, leaving the printed outline behind. The flowers, leaves, birds and branches were then painted with a water soluble resist with the wonderful name of 'ackey'. It was a mixture of flour and water. It was allowed to dry. Then the Marble sheet pattern, which was to act as the 'background', was printed in the required colour and transferred over the whole surface.
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| Fig 3 Parrot pattern (detail) |
Some of these sheet patterns were described as Chintz, which was also a fashionable term used by collectors in the late 1990s. Parrot pattern (Fig 3) was first issued under the description of Chintz in about 1910, the design being registered on 31st December. It was based on a Spode design of the early 19th century. Initially it was produced only on earthenware but a bone china version was produced in 1924. The background to the pattern was Shagreen also known as Broth. In a catalogue of 1911 it is illustrated and described as a Chintz pattern along with another chintz style pattern. It is often seen on toilet ware.
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| Fig 4 Garden seat in pattern B516 c1838-1847 |
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| Fig 5 Handle sheet for Lange Lijsen |
Angus sheet, Bug, Currants Kendal sheet, Moss Sprigs, Parrot, Star sheet: 19th century
Bachelors Button: 1932
Cracked Ice and Prunus, Marble (Mosaic): 1821
Daisy & Bead, Grapes : 1820
Daisy, Leaf : 1800
Fallen Leaves: 1919
Fibre sheet, Parsley sheet, Peacock and Parsley, Shagreen (Broth) Thyme sheet (2 versions), Valencia (Vine sheet), Vermicelli: pre-1833
Gingham (or Plaid): mid-19th century
George III (Raleigh): 1920
Honeywall, Rose & Lilac : not known
King sheet: 1826 (pattern B173)
Lyre: 1800 - 1805
Morning Glory: 1930
Patricia: 1931
Rosebud Chintz:1928
Strawberry Sheet (B305): 1831
New Strawberry: 1919 (used by 'artist in residence' at Spode, Charlotte Hodes, in December 2000)
Sunflower: 1813
Tumbledown Dick:1823 (see the T page on this blog)
Union sheet: 19th century (also known as Rose, Shamrock and Thistle or Pink chintz)
Wildflower/Primula /Primular:1898 (the background in Angus sheet) Later engraved to include the pattern in the sheet background all-in-one
Wild Rose sheet: early 20th century (seen as pattern 2/6997 of c1917)
With grateful thanks to the late Robert Copeland for teaching me about ackey!
Shoe
see Slipper below
Showroom
To find out how Spode marketed and sold their wares through their stylish showrooms click Spode and Showing Off
In the illustration the arch is lined with painted slabs by an unknown Spode artist. having previously been attributed to Hürten - click Spode and Charles Ferdinand Hürten for more about him.
Also see below for more on slabs.
Slab
The word used to describe a very large tile. These could be used for table tops, architectural panels, fireplaces, garden planters, etc., particularly in the 19th century.
Go to my T page and look at the links under Tiles.
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| One of a set of large monochrome handpainted slabs depicting sporting scenes for a grand house. This one depicts ice hockey - note the hats and suits. The monogram on the left is for the Spode company: WTC for W. T. Copeland; that on the right is for the artist R. J. Abraham |
Slipper
See Spode Shoes and Slippers for more information about these charming items made by Spode by clicking HERE>
Soft Whispers
Soft Whispers pattern was produced on the two-tone Flemish Green with Imperial Ivory body. You can find out more on my F page and looking at Flemish Green.
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| From 'The Fine English Dinnerware' booklet from Spode, 1959 |
Spill Vase
See Matchpot on the M page
Spode, Josiah I (1733-1797)
Founder of the Spode company.
You can find out more about Josiah Spode I and see images on my blogs Happy Birthday Mr Spode I, Josiah Spode I and Thomas Whieldon in 1749, and Happy Birthday to Josiah Spode I.
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| Josiah Spode I |
Spode, Josiah II
You can find out more about Josiah Spode II and see images on my blogs Happy Birthday Mr Spode II and Spode and Paintings, A Confusion of Spodes and Happy Birthday Josiah Spode II.
Click here to see 2 portraits of Josiah Spode II from the Potteries Museum collection. One
is head and shoulders and the other is full length in hunting costume.
Spode, Josiah III
Second son of Spode II and grandson of Spode I.
You can find a mention of Josiah Spode III in my blogs A Confusion of Spodes and Happy Birthday Josiah Spode III.
Spode, Josiah IV (1823-1893)
Son of Spode III, grandson of Spode II and Great grandson of Spode I.
No association with the Spode company.
Spode, Sam
Click HERE> for more information about this intriguing member of the Spode family.
Spode, William (1776-1834). From 1820 known as William Hammersley
Eldest son of Spode II and grandson of Spode I.
Almost certainly involved in his father's successful Spode London business from a young age gaining valuable experience so that in 1797, at the age of 21, he ran the London business for his father after his grandfather Spode I died and Spode II returned to Stoke to run the pottery manufactory.
In 1805 Spode II relinquished his interest entirely in the London business to concentrate on the manufactory at Stoke. So from 1805 to 1811 William ran the business with his partner William Copeland trading as William Spode & Co.
On 31 December 1811 the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent and, at the age of 35, William Spode retired with a fortune to Ash(e), near Aldershot, in Surrey.
Spode Saga Magazine
An in-house magazine from Spode in the 1950s. Click here for more information.
Spode Studio Porcelain
To find out about this pottery body go to Ballet Dancer Figures on the B page.
Spode's Byron
Spode's Byron pattern was registered with the British Patent Office on June 19th 1851 with registered number 79300. The registered version of the design shows a design with a trellis border and a scene depicting a girl giving a drink to a boy. This design does not appear to have been used in Spode's Byron pattern tableware but it does record the first use of the trellis border design.Spode, Josiah III
Second son of Spode II and grandson of Spode I.
You can find a mention of Josiah Spode III in my blogs A Confusion of Spodes and Happy Birthday Josiah Spode III.
Spode, Josiah IV (1823-1893)
Son of Spode III, grandson of Spode II and Great grandson of Spode I.
No association with the Spode company.
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| Josiah Spode IV |
Spode, Sam
Click HERE> for more information about this intriguing member of the Spode family.
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| Sam Spode - self portrait |
Spode, William (1776-1834). From 1820 known as William Hammersley
Eldest son of Spode II and grandson of Spode I.
Almost certainly involved in his father's successful Spode London business from a young age gaining valuable experience so that in 1797, at the age of 21, he ran the London business for his father after his grandfather Spode I died and Spode II returned to Stoke to run the pottery manufactory.
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| Business Card 1805-1811, V & A |
On 31 December 1811 the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent and, at the age of 35, William Spode retired with a fortune to Ash(e), near Aldershot, in Surrey.
Spode Saga Magazine
An in-house magazine from Spode in the 1950s. Click here for more information.
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| Spode Saga magazine, 1954 |
Spode Studio Porcelain
To find out about this pottery body go to Ballet Dancer Figures on the B page.
Spode's Byron
Spode's Byron pattern for tableware was first produced in the 1930s and used a different scene for the centre of each different shape within a service. The most popular version of the pattern had pattern number S518 and was introduced in 1933. The pattern was printed in brown and then hand coloured. A list of most of the scenes used for the various centres and their sources can be found in Spode and Copeland Marks and Other Relevant Intelligence by Robert Copeland (for details see my booklist).
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| Spode's Byron, catalogue page, 1961 |
Spode often worked in conjunction with famous manufacturers of various products to produce items for special promotions. One of these was with the firm of Angus Watson in 1937. They were the proprietors of 'Skipper Sardines' and offered Spode sandwich dishes as a premium gift in connection with a sales promotion of their famous tinned fish. Although documents concerning the original project no longer exist it seems they had two different promotions each one offering the same object but with a different scene.
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| Skippers/Spode Promotion Ad, 1938 |
The object offered was a plate with a raised cross in the centre described as a 'sandwich dish' and the scenes used were described as Series 1 and Series 2. There are no other items in the series and no further series.
The source for the design No. 1 is not known and that for design No. 2 is the one registered in 1851. Many, many of these plates were produced and are often seen today. The newspaper cutting shows the advert for the promotion and you can see the plate with the addition of a metal handle with integral fork - neither of which are usually in evidence when plates from this promotion are seen today.
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| Blue Byron, catalogue page, 1938 |
Another version of Spode's Byron was plain blue printed with pattern number S1688 which was introduced in 1936 and withdrawn in about 1966. It was known as Blue Byron. Part of the huge range of shapes made can be seen in the illustration.
Spode's Byron pattern should not be confused with a much older pattern from Spode called Byron Views which was produced when the company was known as Copeland & Garrett (1833-1847). This is a completely different pattern and not connected with Spode's Byron in any way.
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| 1930s ad with great marketing text! |
Spode's Velamour
You can find out about Spode's Velamour on the V page. |
| Velamour leaflet 1963 |
Sprigged Stoneware
Click here for my Sprigged Stoneware page on my Spode History blog.
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| Mug, probably Spode c1800 |
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| Sprig mould for a backstamp, Copeland & Garrett, 1833-1847 |
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| Jug with weighted, hinged lid, 1920s |
Spring
Several 20th century patterns have spring in their title: Springgala (or Spring Gala), Springtime and Spring. You can also find other Spode/Spring connections by clicking these links: Spode and Spring, Spring is here and Spode and Botanical Designs. In Spring 2014 I also added Spode and Spring Flowers and Plant Pots to my Spode History blog.
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| Springala and backstamp, c1956 |
Statuary Porcelain
Please see Parian on the P page
Stone China
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| Teapot, Stone China, Summer Palace pattern, Lowestoft shape |
And there is a Spode and Cabbage blogpost and an entry under F for Fine Stone.
For for more information on Stone China please see pages 132-135 Spode & Copeland Marks & Other Relevant Intelligence by Robert Copeland detailed on my booklist.
