Summary of Spode Company History

The Spode company has been producing high quality ceramic products on the same factory site since it was established by Josiah Spode I in the late 1700s.

Josiah Spode I (1733-97) established his pottery manufactory in Stoke upon Trent in about 1770. Eight years later his son Josiah II (1755 - 1827) opened premises in Fore St, Cripplegate in the City of London in order to trade in pottery. Here his business increased substantially after his father's development of the technique of transfer printing designs engraved on copper plates onto biscuit earthenware. This was in 1784 when the principal products were copies of Chinese porcelain decorated with blue and white landscapes. New designs included the Willow pattern derived from Chinese landscapes and by 1816 the famous Italian pattern.

The Spode pieces filled a market need for replacements for the Chinese porcelain which was becoming increasingly difficult to obtain from Canton in China. This blue printed ware is still in production in the 21st century. The company also produced much armorial or badged ware which had previously been produced in Chinese porcelain and was also becoming difficult to obtain.

Also in 1784 William Copeland went to work for Josiah II in London becoming an equal partner in 1805 and sole administrator in 1812. His son William Taylor Copeland (Lord Mayor of London 1835-36) became a partner in 1824 and sole owner in 1833 of both the factory and London businesses.

The father and son team of Josiah Spode I and II also perfected the recipe for bone china which was first produced after much experimentation in about 1799. Early pieces are marked Stoke China. It is this recipe which was to become the standard English porcelain now universally known as Fine Bone China.

The firm remained in the Copeland family until 1966. The Spode brand name was used alongside the Copeland name throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, often styled 'Copeland late Spode'. In 1970 to commemorate the founder the name was changed to Spode

Spode Factory 'Family' Tree

Spode manufactory begins in Stoke with Josiah Spode I c1770
I
London business Josiah Spode II c1778 - and later in 1822 with William Copeland known as Spode and Copeland. The Factory continues at Stoke
I
The name Spode continues under the ownership as follows:
Copeland and Garrett 1833 - 1847
I
W. T. Copeland 1847 - 1867
I
W. T. Copeland and Sons 1867 - 1932
I
Wt. Copeland and Sons Ltd 1932 - 1970
I
Spode 1970 onwards

Most of this summary is taken directly from Robert Copeland's contribution to 'London - World City 1800 - 1840' 1992 Yale University Press in association with the Museum of London
Further general reading: Robert Copeland; Spode and Copeland Marks and Other Relevant Intelligence: Studio Vista. ISBN 0-289-80172-9