History of Blue Printed Earthenware

The Unique History of Spode Blue

The period during which the young Josiah Spode I developed his skills was one of great experimentation in the Potteries as new ceramic materials were tried in the search to manufacture white tableware. There was still a demand for the Chinese painted blue and white designs, which had become increasingly scarce and could not be reproduced in quantity by hand on the cream coloured ware of the time.

A covered jug in the Tower pattern,
first produced in 1814.

That was dramatically changed by Spode's perfection of the underglaze printing in 1784, involving the use of hand-engraved copper plates and tissue paper transfers. Already familiar with blue painted decoration, he immediately began to create patterns in the Chinese idiom.

Spode not only proved himself a master of reproducing Chinese designs sympathetically, but also a veritable genius in creating new, original blue and white patterns, such as Tower, Blue Italian and of course, the famous Willow pattern.

Perhaps the archetypal blue and white pattern, the famous Willow design was developed by Spode in about 1790 from a Chinese pattern called Mandarin. To this he added other features from his familiarity with Chinese originals. He probably added the bridge with three people to create human interest, the fence 'a common Chinese motif' to balance the composition and the tea-house which derives from a Chinese piece, a shard of which was later rediscovered when excavated on the Spode site in 1969.

Although much copied by others, inevitably to an inferior standard, Spode's design was and still is the original Willow pattern.

Also featured in the collection, from this very early period, is the Blue Tower pattern. First produced in 1814, it reflects the interest in Italian landscapes at the time.

In continuous production since 1816, Blue Italian is undoubtedly one of the all-time classic tableware patterns. The central scene is thought to be ruins near to Rome. In the interpretation of design, the remarkable sense of space and atmosphere, particularly the elegant integration of figures into the scene, demonstrate how the outstanding techniques of engraving were established at Spode.

The famous Blue Room at Spode is devoted entirely to elegant
displays of blue and white designs. This wonderful collection
of antique underglaze blue printed ware has given great pleasure
to thousands of visitors to the original Spode site.

Spode blue and white wares are amongst the most collectable, and collected, pottery in the world.But perhaps the most impressive testimony to this unique pedigree and unbroken tradition is to be found on the actual factory site, in Stoke-on-Trent.

The famous Blue Room is devoted entirely to early blue and white ware and is the definitive collection. With over 300 pieces elegantly displayed, it not only demonstrates the beauty of individual pieces, but also the amazing diversity of items that have been produced by the technique.

A covered vegetable dish
in the lovely Chinese plants
pattern by Copeland &
Garrett from 1834. This shape,
with minor variations has
remained in the Spode range
and is included in the current
Blue Room collection.

Blue and white pieces feature prominently, too, in the Spode Museum, a priceless collection covering the unique heritage of the company, with pieces dating back as far as 1780. And here on the same site where it all began, the tradition continues. In the factory, artists and craftsmen maintain the exclusive Spode style and quality.

In essence, Spode products are made the way they have always been made. There remains a commitment to nurturing individual skills and talents, preserving distinctive shapes and doing things in the proper way. The original way that is, unmistakably, Spode.