Spode is one of the oldest and most distinguished of the great pottery companies of Staffordshire, the time-honored home of English ceramics. The firm’s blue and white bone china transferware is a timeless classic. Spode dishes compose the sort of elegant dinner service that most of us envision on a traditional holiday table.
The company was established in 1770 in Stoke-on-Trent by Josiah Spode, a friend and neighbor of another estimable English ceramist, Josiah Wedgwood. The Wedgwood firm first came to prominence for its tableware, which quickly gained favor in aristocratic households throughout Britain and Europe.
Spode was particularly known for two technical achievements in the firm’s early decades. The first was to develop a standard formula for the making of bone china — a type of porcelain (made with a mixture of bone ash, minerals and clay) that is dazzlingly white and so strong it can be used to create very thin translucent plates and vessels.
The other advancement was to perfect the making of transferware. That process involves the transfer of pictorial images inked on tissue paper — such as the garden scenery in the famous Willow dish patterns — onto ceramics that are then sealed with a glaze.
From the 1820s onward, Spode enjoyed tremendous success both in Britain and elsewhere owing to the beauty and vitality of its decorative imagery. By some counts, Spode created more than 40,000 patterns in the 19th century.
In 1833, following the sudden death of Josiah Spode III, business partner W. T. Copeland took over the company and changed its name to Copeland Spode (it later changed again, this time to W. T. Copeland and Sons). Collectors regard Copeland-marked pieces as Spode china. The Spode brand was revived in 1970.
Many favorite Spode patterns — among them Blue Italian, Indian Tree, Greek and Woodland — date to the company’s early years. Spode’s most popular pattern, Christmas Tree, was introduced in 1938.
Prices for antique and vintage Spode china vary widely, based on the size of the service, its condition and the pattern. An antique dinner service for 12 people or more, in good repair and complete with cups and serving dishes, will generally cost between $10,000 and $20,000. Such Spode services become heirlooms — a proud and timeless addition to a family’s table. And as you will see on these pages, Spode’s rich and varied wares offer a visual feast in and of themselves.
Find Spode serveware, ceramics and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
Pair of Antique Spode Topographical Porcelain Cobalt Blue Border Shrimp Bowls
By Spode
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very Fine pair of Spode porcelain shrimp bowls. With rich gilding, underglaze cobalt blue borders, and hand painted topographical scenes at their centers. One scene depicts f...
Porcelain
Three-Piece English Porcelain Assembled Garniture, Spode, circa 1810
By Spode
Located in New York, NY
Signed Spode with the pattern number '2575'.
Porcelain
$1,082 / item
H 7.17 in Dm 6.7 in
Large Lomonosov 22K Gold, Cobalt Decor Porcelain Vase, USSR - 2 available
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Russian white porcelain vase manufactured in the 1950s by the Lomonosov Porcelain Factory (founded in 1744). Soft shaped organic Mid-Century Modern vase decorated by hand with large mineral...
Gold
Antique German Three Piece Porcelain Clock Garniture
Located in Montreal, QC
For those who enjoy the fine quality of blue and white German porcelain from the middle of the last century, this is a particularly fin...
Porcelain
$74,500 / set
H 41 in W 16 in D 14 in
Massive Pair of Fine Antique French Ormolu-Mounted Sèvres Style Porcelain Vases
Located in New York, NY
A massive pair of fine antique French ormolu-mounted Sèvres style porcelain covered vases. Each of baluster form, the cover with foliate finial and laurel band, the body finely paint...
Bronze
Electric Blue Porcelain Pillar Vase
By Erin Turkoglu
Located in Helsinki, FI
Pillar-vase takes inspiration from the ancient human-made rock formations. It references the ancient architecture and the human touch in carved stones. The sculptural vase displays f...
Porcelain
Regency Gold: Spode Porcelain Vases in Pattern 967
By Spode
Located in Downingtown, PA
Regency Gold: Spode Porcelain Vases in Pattern 967 Object: Pair of Small Urn/Spill Vases Maker: Spode (Josiah Spode II), Stoke-on-Trent, England Pattern: Pattern 967 (Japan Pattern ...
Porcelain
$20,860 / set
H 22.05 in W 8.67 in D 4.73 in
Three Piece Alabaster Clock Garniture in the Form of a Neo-Gothic Cathedral
Located in London, GB
This exquisite three-piece alabaster clock garniture consists of a central clock with two flanking vases. The central clock is designed to resemble the shape of a neo-Gothic cathedra...
Alabaster, Ormolu
$14,800 / set
H 13.5 in Dm 5.25 in
Beautiful Pair of French Louis XVI Sevres Cobalt Blue Porcelain and Ormolu Vases
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful pair of 19th century French Louis XVI style Sevres cobalt blue and ormolu-mounted vases with rams heads and wreaths. The porcelain body is beautifully painted with the signature Sevres Royal cobalt blue. The square shaped base is decorated with ormolu acanthus leaves and ribbon wreaths beautifully hand chizzeled and detailed ormolu work. These vases can easily be turned into a fabulous pair of...
Bronze
Blue Porcelain Sevres Vases
Located in New York, NY
Pair of 1920s French royal blue porcelain vases with bronze mounts and marked Sevres. Measurements: Height 16.5".
Regency Spode Porcelain Garniture of Three Vases
By Spode
Located in Downingtown, PA
Regency Opulence: Spode Porcelain Garniture of Three Vases Circa 1805–1810 A fine and rare Regency-period porcelain garniture of three vases produced by the Spode factory (Circa 180...
Porcelain
$1,196Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 13 in Dm 6 in
French Samson Porcelain Chinese Export Style 4-Piece Garniture Set
By Samson & Cie
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Samson Porcelain Chinese Export Style 4-Piece Garniture Set France, Circa 1950s Consisting of four pieces, each one decorated in the Chinese Export style with hanging baskets of flowers in vignettes with floral surrounds, painted in a subtle palette of reds, blues and gilt decoration. The two covered vases with resting lion lids...
Porcelain
Mason's Ironstone Garniture of Three Vases, Circa 1835
By Mason's Ironstone
Located in Downingtown, PA
Regency Opulence: Mason's Ironstone Garniture Vases Object: Garniture of Three Vases (One central, two flanking) Manufacturer: Mason's Ironstone China, Staffordshire, England Date: ...
Pottery, Ironstone
$12,500 / set
H 9 in W 4.25 in D 2.25 in
Pr. 19th Century Russian Cobalt Blue & Gold Ground Swan Handle Porcelain Vases
Located in New York, NY
A fantastic quality pair of Russian Empire cobalt blue and gold ground swan handle porcelain vases. Each piece is of Amphora form with a gorgeous 24K gold matted, burnished, and shiny front and backside decoration. The front panels consist of a young girl and a young boy, where the young girl is seen holding food on her head with a water pale in her hand walking through the town, while the boy is seen holding a basket of fruit up and walking it back home. The reverse of each of the vases is also elaborately decorated with one of the scenes being a comfy home with a beautiful woody landscape with a deer running through the backyard, while the other vase has a gorgeous landscape scene with a man riding a horse in the background. On either side of the vases are two-tone matte and burnished 24K gold swan form handles. Underneath the handles are 24K gold hand-painted decorations over a cobalt blue ground. The body runs down a waisted gold neck onto a rounded base which sits on a square gold plinth...
Porcelain