Gadroon shape was first introduced at Spode in about 1824. The earliest pattern number recorded in the pattern books is 3934 from that year. The shape copied the elegant shapes in Georgian silver wares and very many patterns are recorded on the shape at Spode. It was particularly used for teawares and elaborate dessert services.

One famous service made in this shape was for the Honourable East India Company in 1824. This replaced an earlier Chinese porcelain service destroyed by fire in their warehouse in Canton in 1822. In his book Spode Leonard Whiter says 'this must be the unlikeliest order in the whole history of ceramics. That the world's largest trafficker in Chinese porcelain should come to Staffordshire when it required ware for Canton is almost incredible'. He goes on to say that after the fire in 1822 permission was given in London for the premises in Canton to be rebuilt and refurnished. The archives of the India Office record that on 18th September 1824 a payment of £476 15s 6d was made to Messrs Spode and Copeland for porcelain under the heading of 'Factory Stores and Petty Merchandise'.

The shape was made in both china, including Felspar Porcelain, and earthenware.

The patterns in bone china sometimes had their gadroon edge gilded for a spectacular result. Several different gilding styles were used following the moulding in a different way with descriptions such as, rich or half solid, solid, scrat and slight. The different style produced quite different effects.

In addition to the china regular 10" plate there was also a Flat Rim plate used for some patterns.

On earthenware the patterns start to appear on the Gadroon shape from late 1825 and become particularly popular towards the end of the 1800s. Pattern B111 of 1825, a version of Trophies- Marble patterns is one of the earliest on the Gadroon shape in earthenware.

In 2002 Gadroon shape is only made in earthenware and its most famous pattern is Tower.