Spode is one of the foundational names in British ceramics, and its influence on the history of pottery is difficult to overstate. Josiah Spode I developed the formula for bone china around 1800, creating the body type that became the standard for British fine ceramics. His factory also refined the transfer printing process that made decorated tableware accessible to a mass market. The Blue Italian pattern, introduced around 1816, has been in continuous production ever since, making it one of the longest-running ceramic patterns in the world. For South African collectors, Spode and Copeland pieces appear regularly at estate sales and auction houses, and the range spans everything from everyday transferware to fine bone china.
This guide covers the history of the Spode and Copeland factory, the main patterns you will encounter, how to date pieces using marks, and what to look for when assessing pieces in the Collectibles by Deon collection.
A Brief History of the Spode and Copeland Factory
The Spode factory was established in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, by Josiah Spode I in 1770. Under Josiah Spode II, the factory made two contributions that shaped the entire British ceramics industry: the refinement of the bone china formula around 1800, and the development of the transfer printing process for underglaze blue decoration. Both innovations were adopted by virtually every other British pottery manufacturer.
Josiah Spode II died in 1827, and the factory was subsequently acquired by William Taylor Copeland and Thomas Garrett in 1833. The factory traded as Copeland and Garrett until 1847, then as W.T. Copeland and Sons until 1970, when the Spode name was revived as the primary brand. The factory was acquired by the Portmeirion Group in 2009 and continues to produce Spode patterns, including Blue Italian, under the Spode name.
The name changes through the factory's history are important for collectors because they affect the marks on pieces and therefore their dating. A piece marked "Spode" was made either before 1833 or after 1970. A piece marked "Copeland and Garrett" was made between 1833 and 1847. A piece marked "W.T. Copeland" or "Copeland" was made between 1847 and 1970. A piece marked "Copeland Spode" was made during the transitional period when both names were used.
Blue Italian: The World's Longest-Running Pattern
Blue Italian is Spode's most famous and enduring pattern, introduced around 1816 and in continuous production ever since. It depicts an Italian landscape with a bridge, ruins, trees, and figures, printed in underglaze blue on a white earthenware or bone china body. The pattern is produced by transfer printing from an engraved copper plate, and the quality of the engraving, with its fine detail and characteristic stippled shading, is one of the defining features of genuine Spode Blue Italian.
The Collectibles by Deon collection includes several Blue Italian pieces: the Spode Blue Italian Rectangular Covered Butter Dish, the Spode Blue Italian Porcelain Vase, and the Copeland Spode's Italian Blue and White Tea Cup and Saucer. The Copeland Spode mark on the tea cup and saucer places it in the transitional period when both names were used, providing a useful dating indicator.
Blue Italian has been produced across an enormous range of forms, from standard tableware to decorative pieces, and the pattern has been copied by other manufacturers. Genuine Spode Blue Italian is identified by the Spode or Copeland backstamp and by the quality of the engraving, which is finer and more detailed than most copies. Read our guide to transferware for more context on the transfer printing tradition.
Transferware: Blue Willow, Red Willow, and Other Patterns
Spode is credited with producing one of the earliest versions of the Blue Willow pattern, around 1790, though the exact origins of the pattern are debated among ceramic historians. The factory produced a wide range of transferware patterns beyond Blue Willow, including the Edwardian Childhood pattern seen on the Spode Edwardian Childhood Blue Egg Plate in the collection, which features charming scenes of Edwardian childhood in blue transfer print.
W.T. Copeland and Sons also produced transferware in colours beyond blue, including the Red Willow pattern. The W.T. Copeland and Sons Red Willow Chinoiserie Transferware Plate in the collection is a documented example of this rarer colour variant from one of the most respected Staffordshire makers. Red Willow is significantly less common than Blue Willow and is actively sought by collectors who specialise in colour variants of the pattern.
Bone China: Spode's Fine Tableware
Beyond transferware, Spode and Copeland produced a wide range of fine bone china tableware and decorative pieces. The factory's bone china is characterised by its whiteness, translucency, and the quality of its painted and gilded decoration. Spode bone china pieces appear regularly at South African estate sales, often as part of tea service dispersals.
Dating Spode and Copeland Pieces Using Marks
The name changes through the factory's history provide the most reliable dating framework:
- "Spode" alone: pre-1833 or post-1970.
- "Copeland and Garrett": 1833 to 1847.
- "W.T. Copeland" or "Copeland": 1847 to 1970.
- "Copeland Spode": transitional period, typically mid-twentieth century.
- "England" in the mark: post-1891 for export pieces.
- "Made in England": post-approximately 1921.
- "Bone China" or "Fine Bone China": twentieth-century production.
Read our guide to dating antique ceramics for broader context on mark dating.
What to Look For When Collecting Spode and Copeland
- Print quality on Blue Italian: genuine Spode Blue Italian has fine, detailed engraving with characteristic stippled shading in the landscape elements. Copies tend to have coarser, less detailed prints. Compare the quality of the landscape detail, particularly the foliage and architectural elements, against documented Spode examples.
- Mark consistency: the mark on a piece should be consistent with the claimed period of production. A piece marked "Spode" with "Made in England" in the mark was made after 1921, not in the eighteenth or early nineteenth century.
- Condition of transferware: examine the print for wear, fading, and scratching. The underglaze transfer print is protected by the glaze layer and should not fade with normal use, but heavy wear on the glaze surface can affect the appearance of the print beneath.
- Bone china condition: examine rims, handles, and lids carefully for chips and hairlines. Gilded borders should be examined for wear and rubbing.
- Completeness of sets: complete Spode tea services and dinner services are increasingly rare. Individual pieces and partial services are more commonly found and are a practical starting point for new collectors.
Spode and Copeland in South Africa
Spode and Copeland pieces arrived in South Africa in significant quantities through the colonial period, when British-made pottery dominated the domestic market. Blue Italian in particular was a staple of South African households from the late nineteenth century onward, and pieces turn up regularly at estate sales, antique markets, and auction houses across the country.
Browse the Ceramics collection and the Blues and Whites collection at Collectibles by Deon for available Spode and Copeland pieces. For questions about specific patterns or pieces, visit our contact page or learn more about the store.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Spode invent bone china?
Josiah Spode II is widely credited with refining the bone china formula around 1800, creating the body type that became the standard for British fine ceramics. While earlier experiments with bone ash in ceramic bodies existed, Spode's formula, combining bone ash, china clay, and china stone in specific proportions, was the version adopted by the British ceramics industry.
Is Blue Italian still being made?
Yes. Blue Italian has been in continuous production since its introduction around 1816, making it one of the longest-running ceramic patterns in the world. It is currently produced by the Portmeirion Group, which acquired the Spode factory in 2009, under the Spode name.
What is the difference between Spode and Copeland?
Spode and Copeland refer to the same factory at different periods of its history. The factory was established by Josiah Spode I in 1770 and traded as Spode until 1833, when it was acquired by W.T. Copeland and Thomas Garrett. It traded as Copeland and Garrett (1833 to 1847), then as W.T. Copeland and Sons (1847 to 1970), before the Spode name was revived in 1970. The factory was acquired by the Portmeirion Group in 2009.
How do I identify genuine Spode Blue Italian?
Check the base for the Spode or Copeland backstamp. Genuine Spode Blue Italian has fine, detailed engraving with characteristic stippled shading in the landscape elements. The quality of the print is finer and more detailed than most copies. The mark should be consistent with the claimed period of production.
What is Red Willow?
Red Willow is a colour variant of the Blue Willow pattern, printed in red rather than blue. It was produced by several Staffordshire manufacturers including W.T. Copeland and Sons, but in much smaller quantities than the blue version. Red Willow is significantly less common than Blue Willow and is actively sought by collectors who specialise in colour variants of the pattern. Read our guide to transferware and Blue Willow for more detail.
A rewarding category for collectors of blue and white ceramics, transferware, or British fine china with a documented factory history. Browse the Ceramics collection to explore available pieces, or contact us to ask about specific patterns or marks.