Pattern Histories

Ship pattern takes its name from the dominant feature in the scene on pattern number 3067. This was first recorded in about 1821. The design is originated from a service of Chinese porcelain. The original Chinese design featured a central scene with a ship. The border was later used in conjunction with other patterns at Spode but retained its name of Ship border - even when no ship was part of the pattern. An illustration of the Ship pattern, with its ship, can be seen in Spode by Leonard Whiter (published by Barrie and Jenkins). Items featuring the pattern can be seen in the Spode Museum.

The border pattern first appears in pattern number 3025 in the pattern books, a little earlier than the border of pattern 3067 but has slight differences from the later border which becomes so well established.

Many different patterns were used in the centre with different coloured prints for the outline and a different range of handpainted colours being used for each version. The Ship border could also be used in conjunction with a coat of arms in the centre such as ware produced for the City of Bristol. The pattern is particularly known in the first half of the 19th century but was produced well into the 20th century.

Below is a list of some of the variations of the pattern researched1 in the early Spode pattern books from about 1800 - 1833. There are many more books to look through for the latter part of the 19th century and into the 20th so this list may need to be added to when research is complete.

Pattern No	Brief Description
3025	(very similar border) Central reserve outlined in 'India' with flower spray. Faint 'India' edge.2
3067	Harbour landscape with sailing ship - printed in Brown.
3068	Harbour landscape with sailing ship - printed in Blue.
3069	Small central reserve with flower spray, 3 other sprays around the plate - mainly pink
3070	Central flower spray similar but larger than 3069, no others, mainly blue
3072	Flower centre - petals pink with leaves dark blue & gilded.
3073	Small central flower spray - pink.
3091	Border with blue-green ground. Large central flower spray - blue.
3125	Same spray as 3091 but pink flowers & green leaves. Note says "Green'd in com'n blue green and honeysuckle green" & "blue printed".
3126	New central flower spray pink shades with blue/gilt branches & some leaves. Note says "blue printed, India edge"
3133	As 3067. Printed in black, gilt edge.
3134	As above but printed in blue with India edge.
3138	As 3125 but printed in black with faint India edge.
3144	As 3069 Edging colour instead of gold.
3145	As 3125 but printed and coloured in blue.
3154	As 3125 but printed in edging colour.
3326	As 3125 but with internal edge of border in blue, no edging colour shown.
3332	Centre as Peacock pattern.
3422	As 3125 but printed in chocolate brown
3451	Border only. Printed in chocolate brown.
3469	Black & Gold ground between border and central reserve. Small spray of Blue/gilt flowers and gold line. Blue printed, White edge. Purple flowers in border.
3470	Pink flowers in border, otherwise as 3469. Printed in blue.
3473	Central flowers shaded in Brown & Orange. Notes "Printed and shaded in biscuit brown" & "India edge"
3474	Pattern as 3473. Note "Printed and shaded in Biscuit brown"
3475	Pattern as 3473 but flowers in border different colour. Note "Printed and shaded in Biscuit brown - Gold edge".

3553	Border on a London shape cup. Printed in blue inside and outside, with sprig at the bottom
3587	Border inside and outside on a London shape cup, sprig at bottom. Note says "Edging colour instead of gold".
3599	Small central spray of flowers, mainly pink & purple. Note says "Edging colour".
3612	Central pattern is that known as India in shades of dull pink and grey.
3690	Central pattern is that known as Bang up. Note says 'Printed in Blue'.
3692	Oriental Mother and child with flowers and fence. Note says 'Printed in Blue'.
3697	Central pattern is that known as Willis.
3701	Also Willis pattern in different colourway
3702	Central pattern is that known as Star pattern, blue colouring and gilding. Note says "Blue shaded on biscuit"
3703	As 3692 but flowers in centre different colour.
3707	Central pattern is that known as Star pattern. Red colourway.
3708	3 flowers sprays in centre.
3725	As 3707 but in a blue/red colourway.
3755	Central pattern is that known as Willis. Printed in blue. 'Dirty yellow' ground to border. Dark purple flowers, leaves blue/gilt, India edge.
3769	Central pattern is that known as 'Bang up'. Mainly blue colourway.
3774	Flower sprigs arranged in two concentric circles around a rose at the centre.
3786	As 3769 but in red colourway. Note says "Shaded in red".
3820	As 3702, but no gilding and with India edge.
3831	As 3125 and 3422 but with India edge. Note says "Handles are gilt as 2283"
3927	Delicate flower spray in centre, shades of grey.
3995	Central pattern is that known as Bowpot.
4196	Also Bowpot but with pattern 1128 (Parsley) as background. Pink shades, border ground colour is Green.
4362	Deep red flowers in border and centre with the central flower. Black/Pink with gilded highlights
4363	Star centre again. Grey/Pink colouration with gilding.
4579	Central pattern is that known as Peacock. Birds are green, rocks brown, flowers mainly pink and border ground colour is yellow.
4722	Central pattern composed of rocks, small tree with flowers, two large flowers Border is printed in black with edges gilded. Red/ Black colourway.

The following table below shows those variations of the pattern in the B book which was begun in 1822 for patterns decorated wholly underglaze.

B23	Printed in blue - no edge colour - inner border edge uncoloured. Centre is Willis pattern, palette grey, yellow & blue
B123	Printed in brown - no edge colour - inner border edge uncoloured. Centre spray of two major flowers in blue. Shown on a Gadroon edged plate
B125	Printed in black - no edge colour - inner border edge uncoloured. Centre, as B123 above in shades of brown. Shown on a Gadroon edged plate.
B171	Printed in brown - no edge colour - inner border edge uncoloured. Centre large flower spray. Palette red, blue, purple and green. Border flowers in red, blue & purple
B172	Printed in black - no edge colour - inner border edge uncoloured. Centre spray as B171 palette as B171 except that all large border flowers are in red shades.
B260	Printed in black - no edge colour - inner border edge uncoloured. Centre as B123 Flowers in deep pink
B279	Printed in black - no edge colour - inner border edge brown. Centre, "Bowpot" pattern palette pink, green and yellow. Border overcoloured in green.
B335	Printed in brown - no edge colour - inner border edge uncoloured. Centre as B171. Palette similar to B171 but does not have the purple shades and the leaves are in grey & brown.
	Note. This is the last Ship Border pattern on paper watermarked up to 1831. Paper watermarked 1833 was used for patterns between B388 and B455. It seems likely that patterns B456 & onwards were produced during the Copeland & Garrett period, ie 1833 to 1847.
B397	Printed in black - no edge colour - inner border edge in brown. Centre, Willis pattern. Palette pink, green & brown.
B404	Printed in brown - no edge colour - inner border edge uncoloured. Centre as B171, palette green & brown
B414	Printed in black, otherwise as B404.
B562	Printed in brown - no edge colour - inner border edge uncoloured. Centre as B123 with the major flowers coloured 1 in red the other blue. Border palette similar to B123.
B576	Printed in black otherwise as B562.
B662	Printed in Filigree blue - no edge colour - inner border edge uncoloured. Centre Willis pattern with pink flowers & blue leaves with gilded veins.
B699	Printed in Filigree blue - no edge colour - inner border edge uncoloured. Centre Willis pattern in a Saxon blue and Chestnut brown palette.
B719	Printed in 313 brown - no edge colour - inner border edge uncoloured. Centre two oriental figures in garden one holding a parasol made from peacock feathers. A note says "Engraving for centre destroyed".
B767	Printed in 294 green - no edge colour - inner border edge coloured orange/brown. Centre Willis pattern in a palette of pink, blue, orange yellow & green .

1With thanks to Peter Lowe for researching the list of variations in Ship pattern found in the early 19th century pattern books.

2 India edge is a painted brown edge which was less expensive than gold. India was a term used which was synonymous with all things Oriental in the late 1700s/early 1800s.

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Pattern No

Brief Description