Blue Italian celebrates the Stoke – on – Trent centenary with a limited edition piece proudly displaying the new logo and backstamp.

Here at Spode, we're incredibly proud of our heritage, deeply rooted in the heart of Stoke-on-Trent. This year, 2025, marks a monumental occasion for our beloved city as it celebrates 100 years of city status.

To honour this centenary, we're thrilled to announce that Spode is releasing a limited-edition commemorative piece and unveiling a brand-new logo and backstamp, specially designed to mark this celebratory occasion. Join us as we celebrate Stoke-on-Trent's rich past and bright future with these unique additions to the Spode legacy. Read on to find out more. 

Spode is undeniably one of the most influential names British ceramics. Our story began in 1770 when Josiah Spode I founded the company, perfectly placed in Stoke-on-Trent, England. This region, soon to be known as ‘The Potteries’, was the ideal spot, rich in clay and coal, and home to a skilled workforce.

It was Josiah I who perfected a commercially successful method for manufacturing blue and white ceramics. Then, his son, Josiah II, made another groundbreaking discovery: the precise formula for bone china. Together, these pioneering men completely reshaped the British pottery industry; securing Britain’s competitive edge in the luxury ceramics market and successfully challenging imports from China and Europe.

Over 255 years later, Spode pottery remains deeply rooted in Stoke-on-Trent. Our factory today is just 500 meters from the original site, a testament to our enduring legacy. It's here, in our bustling factory, that we continue to craft Spode ceramics, including the iconic blue and white designs pioneered by Josiah I and his son more than two centuries ago. This legacy of craftsmanship and innovation is something we proudly nurture to this day.

This year, 2025, marks a truly special milestone: a century since Spode’s birthplace, Stoke-on-Trent, proudly received its city status. This centenary honours the rich history, vibrant culture, and unique identity that have made our city a global name in ceramics and beyond. To join in this year-long celebration, we’re excited to launch a limited-edition mug in our most iconic Blue Italian pattern.  

It felt only right to choose Blue Italian for this special commemorative piece. It's one of the most enduring ceramic patterns ever produced, continuously in production since 1816. Featuring a romanticized Italian landscape of classic ruins, rolling hills, and figures in pastoral settings, the design is printed in its distinctive cobalt blue and white – a colourway truly synonymous with Spode. 

As a special nod to our founding year, only 1770 mugs are available, each individually numbered, and gift boxed with a personalised collector’s card. Each mug is a unique part of Spode’s history, and this is your opportunity to own a part of it.

As part of these centenary celebrations, we’ve also very excited to unveil a refreshed logo and brand-new backstamp, which will first feature on the limited-edition mug. Our redesigned logo proudly reflects our rich heritage, deeply rooted right here in the heart of The Potteries. Alongside our founding year, it now features the iconic silhouette of the original Spode Works factory gate. A true homage to where Spode began over two and half centuries ago.

Along with the refreshed logo, the redesigned backstamp will now proudly boast our ‘Made in Stoke-on-Trent' mark, showcasing our commitment to ceramic production in its home in the UK. It’s our promise to ensure the legacy of this incredible craft continues to thrive in our city for the next 255 years and beyond. All Spode products feature a backstamp on its underside, often the last feature to be added during its manufacture, serving as our enduring promise of the highest quality craftsmanship.