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Due to major changes at the Spode Museum Trust the enquiry and research service is unfortunately no longer available.
The Spode Museum Trust, a non-profit making charity, will have no staff in place from April 24th 2008. The Spode Museum Trust's Archive has been kindly accepted by and deposited with The Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service and is held at Stoke on Trent City Archives. Information on location and opening times can be found on the Archive Service homepage www.staffordshire.gov.uk/archives. [Note that items which have been on deposit at Keele University Library are unaffected by this change. They remain at Keele]. The archive is huge and has taken 7 months to pack and move. Stoke on Trent City Archives is preparing a list but inevitably there will be a delay before this is complete. Until that time access to the archive will be restricted to items which had been individually catalogued by the Spode Museum Trust. This includes most of the eighteenth and early nineteenth century records of the factory, including the pattern and shape books. A list of these is available for consultation in the Archive Service Reading Room and will be made available online as soon as time and resources permit. Researchers wishing to consult the archive should in all cases contact the Archive Service in advance. The email address is stoke.archives@stoke.gov.uk The Archive Service offers a paid for Research service, details of which can be found on the service website. However requests for research in the Spode archive will be assessed on a case by case basis: the Archive Service does not have the expertise and accumulated knowledge that was available to the Spode Museum Trust and would not wish to undertake research where such knowledge is essential to the efficient conduct of the enquiry. The Archive Service will never offer a valuation and, for the reasons just explained, will not provide identification or authentication of items. You may be able to find answers to your questions on these web pages. Try the Pattern Histories section and use the buttons on this page. You can also find a full bibliography and the best book to use for information on the history of the Spode and Copeland factory and wares is Spode and Copeland Marks and Other Relevant Intelligence by Robert Copeland. Under no circumstances can the Museum or company give valuations. If you would like advise on obtaining a valuation then please go to our FAQ page. What can I find out about my pots without contacting the museum? |
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Pottery Matching Companies : if your pattern is no longer available look at our current product to find something to complement your pattern or try a company who provides matchings. If you still need help then make sure you have all the following information in your email or letter: Pattern Numbers: these are the main clue to the identification of a pattern. The same pattern name may have been used for different designs and the same pattern may have several names but the number is unique. The pattern numbers may be handpainted, often in red, or printed with the backstamp. However not every item is marked with a pattern number and a picture may be required. The Pattern: there are over 75000 patterns recorded in the archive so a simple description is not always enough. If you can, send a picture. Sometimes the name of the pattern is incorporated in the backstamp. Much of the time it would simply be known by is number Backstamp: the backstamp is the mark put on the ware by the company - often several marks appear. This company has had different marks from about 1770 to the present day. We have over 300 recorded! Slight variations in words and style can help to date a piece. The backstamps fall into four main categories:
Note down ALL the details on the base of the pieces which can include:
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