B

B Patterns
Click Spode and the B Book for more information on this range of patterns from Spode.
Pattern B1 c1823


 Ballet Dancer Figures


Sibley & Dowell in 'Friday's Child'
In about 1973 Spode commissioned four figures from the sculptor Enzo Plazzotta. For the project the Spode company developed a new ceramic body called Spode Studio Porcelain which was similar to the parian body developed at the factory in the 1840s.

Plazzotta was born in Mestre, near Venice, in 1921. He studied sculpture and architecture. After spending many years establishing the reputation of his studio, Plazzotta began a series of sculptures in 1967 depicting the ballet dancer Nadia Nerina and, later, Rudolph Nureyev. Following these world-acclaimed studies came a series featuring Vanessa Redgrave in her film role of Isadora Duncan.

The subjects chosen for the project with Spode were Antoinette Sibley and Anthony Dowell - one of the all-time great partnerships in ballet. Four studies were produced and fitted with a removable black marble base. Some figures were supplied without the base, particularly 'seconds'.

The studies were: 
1. Antoinette Sibley, limited edition of 500, recommended retail price in the 1970s £230
2. Anthony Dowell, limited edition of 500, recommended retail price in the 1970s £230
3. Sibley & Dowell in 'Fridays Child', limited edition of 300, recommended retail price in the 1970s £368
4. Sibley & Dowell in 'Romeo and Juliet', limited edition of 500, recommended retail price in the 1970s £368
Anthony Dowell
Problems with the marble base which sometimes proved too heavy for the fine, delicately-poised-figure, causing catastrophic breakages; technically difficulties in manufacture; and simply being not the sort of thing expected from Spode in the 1970s, meant that these were not a commercial success for Spode.

Antoinette Sibley

 Barbecue
Click on Barbecue to take you to my blog about this unusual pattern. You can also find more about Tricorn shape, on which the pattern was produced, under T.


Beaton, Cecil
To find out about the connection between Spode and Cecil Beaton click here.


Billingsley Rose

Billingsley Rose & Jewel Imperial
Catalogue page 1983

Billingsley Rose pattern was the most popular design on Jewel shape. The original shape design was devised for a dessert service, possibly made for Queen Victoria, to the design of W. H. Goss, Art Director at the factory. In the original service, each of the embossed circles on the border was fitted with a mirror-backed glass gem which simulated rubies, emeralds and topaz.
Jewel shape was expanded into a range of tableware and registered at the London Patent Office as No. 70392 in 1924. It was patented in the United States on 15 June 1926. The tableware range was determined by the needs of the North American market - Spode's biggest market. In an ivory earthenware, undecorated it was called Jewel Imperial and proved to be very popular.

Billingsley Rose with pattern number 2/8867 was introduced 1930, discontinued in c1989 with a brief reintroduction in the early 2000s. The pattern took its name from William Billingsley, a famous flower painter, who worked for the Derby and Worcester factories, amongst others, at the turn of the 19th century. Although Billingsley never worked for Spode, the roses were inspired by his style. The pattern was originally printed and then hand coloured but from 1972 it was produced with slide-off lithography (known as water slide at Spode).

Another version of the pattern in yellow, followed the same design. It was called Yellow Rose and was introduced in 1932 as pattern number 2/9673 and discontinued July 1st 1969.
Bone China
One of the most famous and successful products from the Spode factory. Go to my Bone China page on my Spode History blog for full details about this important and beautiful invention from the Spode factory in about 1799.
Catalogue page 1961 

Books on Spode
There is a booklist on my Spode History blog just click here> There are also some dedicated blogs which I have written for some of the best books on Spode history.

 'Spode and his Successors' by Arthur Hayden
'Spode ... ' by  Leonard Whiter
'Spode & Copeland Marks and Other Relevant Intelligence' by Robert Copeland and any of the other books by Copeland on the booklist
'Copyhold Potworks & Housing in the Staffordshire Potteries 1700-1832' by Peter Roden and any of the other works by Roden on the booklist
Botanical Designs
Click Spode and Botanical Designs
Botanical
This is the name of a Spode pattern introduced in about 1828. Click here for an image of a salad bowl in this pattern.

Sauce tureen, c1828


Bottle Ovens
In 2018 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Last Bottle Oven Firing I co-authored the book 'Bottle Ovens & the Story of the Final Firing' with Terry Woolliscroft
Buy the book!
Published by:
Gladstone Pottery Museum August 1st 2018, ISBN 978 0 9505411 3 6

For lots more about bottle ovens click/tap Bottle Ovens where you will find helpful links.


 Bottle Ovens at Spode

Spode looking towards Stoke Minster
For facts and figures about the Spode bottle ovens and kilns, including pioneering 20th century developments after the Clean Air Act of 1956, click/tap Spode's Bottle Ovens 

Spode factory 1930s
Ceremonial lighting of the new tunnel kiln with a flame carried from a bottle oven


 Bridal Rose

 See Savoy on the S page


 Bridge
There are 3 versions of this transfer printed pattern which were produced at Spode. They are Bridge I (pronounced Bridge one) and Bridge II (pronounced Bridge two) from the early 1800s and then a third version named New Bridge from the late 1800s.

Bridge I is usually seen on toilet ware and drinking vessels and is thought to pre-date Bridge II on bone china. The principal difference between these two patterns is the border. Bridge I has a rosette between the drape motif and Bridge II has a butterfly. Bridge II is scarcer and is found on bone china plates and dishes. The border is a closer copy of 18th century Chinese porcelain from which the designs originate.

The third version has become known as Queen Charlotte
Coverdish base (detail) New Bridge, 1897
 with pattern number 1/3822 of 1884. It is is a later engraving correctly called New Bridge. The new engraving appears to have been called Queen Charlotte following the publication of a company booklet which includes a description of her visit to Spode and depicts this pattern at the top of the page. As Queen Charlotte died in 1818 there is no connection between her and the pattern although the pattern name is sometimes printed on the ware.

New Bridge (Queen Charlotte) was also produced as pattern 1/3870 in bone china in Boston shape with gilded detail. The 1/3822 version of the pattern was on stone china with a gold edge.

More information about Spode's Chinese designs can be found in Robert Copeland's 'Spode's Willow Pattern & Other designs after the Chinese' detailed on my booklist.



Brighton Royal Pavilion
A series of blogposts about the magnificent ceramics made by Spode in the early 1800s for the Royal Pavilion in Brighton - 'a seaside palace for the King' - can be found here:
and here:
and here:

Porcelain Pagodas
Thank you to Patricia Ferguson for the photo showing pagodas in situ at the Royal Pavilion. Patricia is on Instagram: @vasemadness 


Bruce, Kate
Please see the  K page for Kate Bruce
Bute Shape
Bute is the name of a teaware shape made by Spode and many other manufacturers. Introduced around 1800 or even earlier it was a popular shape until the 1830s. It is believed to have been named after the Earl of Bute who suggested the name to Wedgwood.
Spode cup, Bute shape, Love Chase border, pattern 1119
pluck & dust method of decoration
Many potters manufacturing in the late 1700s/early 1800s, including Spode, did not always mark their wares. The variation in the shape of these similar cups and in particular their handles helps to identify which manufacturer made them. Have a look at my blog Spode and Cup Handles for more information.

Also visit Spode Exhibition Online to explore teaware shapes.


Buttercup
Click Spode and Buttercups and Dandelions for my blogpost on the Buttercup pattern.


Byron
This pattern is usually referred to as Spode's Byron and can be found on the S page. It is not the same pattern as Byron Views.


Byron Views
Multi-scene patterns for underglaze printed wares were introduced in the early years of the 19th century by Spode. It is possible Spode II was also the first to produce the topographical subjects that were to become so popular. The famous Indian Sporting and Caramanian patterns date from 1807 and 1809 respectively. Spode's successors, Copeland and Garrett, expanded the range of multi-scene subjects often issuing scenes which had a topical popular appeal such as Wellington which depicts scenes of the Iron Duke's famous victories.

Plate, Byron Views featuring Bologna, c1833
In 1832, Lord Byron's publisher, John Murray brought out the first of three volumes of engravings entitled 'Finden's Landscape and Portrait illustrations to the Life and Works of Lord Byron'. Depicting scenes associated with the poet's life, it was engraved in exquisite detail by the brothers Edward and William Finden.

Sauce tureen cover and stand, Byron Views, c1833 

Spode's engravers selected and adapted the Finden scenes for the pattern which was to become known as Byron Views. The pattern was introduced in 1833, the year in which Spode became known as Copeland and Garrett. The pattern was produced in a variety of colours: examples are known in green, blue and brown.