Chelsea shape derives from examples of the early English porcelain factory at Chelsea, in London, from which it takes its name. The earliest record of Spode adopting this shape is a cup in the first pattern book with pattern number 1436 dating from 1809. Dinnerware items were registered with the British Patent Office on 15thNovember 1879.

It is probable that bone china patterns pre-dated earthenware ones on Chelsea. The earliest earthenware dinner or table plate appears to be 2/1731 recorded early in 1884. The Chelsea dessert plate dates from before the dinnerware in both bone china and earthenware and was also made in Stone China. Many, many designs have been produced on the Chelsea shape and it is still in production today (1998).

Of the patterns which have been widely sold on bone china the earliest seems to be Primrose 1/2722 dating from 1882. Other well-loved patterns on this shape were Chelsea Garden R9781, Iris Y4840; Irene Y6740; Dimity Y5764; Romany Y7932 and Floral Tapestry Y8379. Designs still available in 1998 are Blue Colonel, Fleur de Lys Gold, Trapnell Sprays and Canterbury.

On earthenware the most well known patterns were Fleur de Lys S2833; Indian Tree 2/959; Felicity S2631;Frascati S3355; Sydney S746; Lorraine S2184; Dubarry S2391; Victoria S2920 and Mandarin 2/1362.

In the second half of the 19th century and early in the 20th century Chelsea shape dessert plates in bone china were often highly decorated with raised gold

jewelling and were painted by some of Spode's premier artists