May 01, 2013 3 min read 3 Comments
Do you love Blue & White porcelain and pottery as much as I do? I am over the moon excited about this gorgeousantique set of Mandarin made by Spode in 1881. {SORRY IT"S SOLD}
A little history on Spode: Spode has produced high quality products at the same factory in Stoke-upon-Trent, North Staffordshire, England since it was established by Josiah Spode I in the late 1700s.
Josiah Spode I (1733-1797) established his famous pottery in Stoke-upon-Trent in 1770, he finished buying his factory in 1776. In 1778 his son Josiah Spode II (1755-1827) opened a shop in London in order to trade in pottery and was highly successful in sales and marketing. He had to join the Guild of Spectacle Makers as it was mandated to belong to one of the Guilds to operate a business in London, and "pottery" was such a new trade at the time, that it didn't have its own guild yet!
In 1784 Spode perfected the technique of underglaze transfer printing using designs hand engraved onto copper plates and printed onto biscuit earthenware. Most of the best loved pieces were copies of Chinese porcelain decorated with blue and white landscapes. Spode's new designs included the Willow pattern {derived from Chinese landscapes} and by 1816 the Italian pattern. The Spode pieces filled a need for replacements for the Chinese porcelain which was becoming very difficult to obtain from Canton, China.
Seeking revenge, the Mandarin captured and caged all the bird in his gardens. He and the Duke sent spies to try to find the two lovers, but failed. Finally, the Mandarin thought to release the birds, ordering his men to follow them, sure they would lead them to his daughter and Chang. The devoted birds, who never forgot their two loving friends, led the evil army straight to the far of pagoda. The warriors set the pagoda on fire, and tragically the lovers perished.
If you want to romance your Home and Garden with antique and vintage treasures to make you smile each time you come home, visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.
May 01, 2013
I have a platter made in USA in the Blue Willow pattern.
May 01, 2013
I have a small plate made by north staffordshire pottery co. Ltd England RIDGWAY that I just love.
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Lisa
May 02, 2013
What a beautiful collection of Spode! The Blue Willow pattern is one of my favorites…