The Stafford shape has been in production since the 1850s and continues in production today (2004). The earliest known examples are from a service made for Colonel Monteith. Before he served in India he had a service made in this shape ornamented with his coat of arms. Later his arms were altered with a sword and coronet added to the crest and a 'chief of honourable augmentation' showing his medals. The crest painting of these is regarded as being the best known and items from the service are on display in the Spode Museum. The gilded ornamentation is similar to that of Sheffield Pattern.

The shape was developed from traditional English silver shapes. Silver and silver gilt wares were used for the well-to-do before pottery and porcelain was more widely available. Pottery designers looked for inspiration in the shapes they produced from existing shapes in other materials, carefully preserving the decorative details. Stafford shape has been used for some of Spode's most elaborate and expensive patterns and continues to be used today (2000).

Some of the patterns which are best known on this shape are:

• Stafford Blue Leaf with pattern number 1/9688 first recorded in 1899. This was the earliest pattern on this shape of which large volumes have been made. The blue leaf was printed and fired and the gold leaf painted over it. The pattern was decorated by the silkscreen process from 1965 and then withdrawn in 1974.
• Sutherland with pattern numberR8920 of 1925. This is the same as Stafford Blue Leaf but with an all-over ivory ground. Other versions are: Y479 of 1928 Crimson Leaf; ; Y506 of 1928 Green Leaf and Y816 also of 1928 with no colour but ivory leaf
• Sheffield with pattern number R568 of 1901 which was perhaps the most popular pattern on the Stafford shape and is still in production (2000). It is often used for armorial services with crests, monograms and coats of arms. Originally the gold was printed from copper engravings. Other variations are Stafford Green Leaf with pattern number R1305 of 1903; Stafford Crimson Leaf, R8006 of 1924and Stafford Red Leaf, Y7493 of 1955.
• Roses with Gold Leaves with pattern number R583 of 1901
• Lancaster Cobalt with pattern number R8950 first recorded in 1925. This is one of the richest patterns produced and remains in production today. Variations no longer in production are Lancaster Crimson R8952 of 1925; Lancaster Leather Green Y8483 of 1984 and Lancaster White Y8499 of 1984. There were also two variations with flat gold rather than raised gold with pattern number Y6896 for the cobalt version and Y7307 for the crimson.
• Rhododendrons with pattern number Y7051 - detailed in a separate information sheet.
• Harrogate with pattern number Y8237 of 1974.
• York with pattern number Y8323 of 1974.
• Stafford White with pattern number Y8554 of 1988 which is still in production.
• Arabesque with pattern number Y8261 of 1976 which was produced in several versions.
• Golden Valley with pattern number Y7840 of 1958 - detailed in a separate information sheet and is still in production.
• The Hunt with pattern number Y8070 of 1963 - detailed in a separate information sheet.
• Shaftesbury with pattern number Y8322 of 1979 which was a very rich pattern of gold on a deep cobalt rim and a version on black at the number Y8302 of 1978.
• Chancellor Cobalt with pattern number Y8439 of 1984 with version in red Y7921 of 1958 and Celadon Y8443 of 1984.
• Campanula with pattern number Y8383 of 1977.
• Hallmark with pattern number Y8557 of 1991.
• Chelsea Bird with pattern number Y8555 of 1989
• Stafford Flowers with pattern number Y8519 of 1986 - detailed in a separate information sheet and is till in production.