where is spode blue italian made

What is Spode Blue Italian?

The History of Blue Italian With its floral chinoiserie border encompassing a rural Italian scene in shades and textures of cobalt blue, the Spode Blue Italian print is one of the most recognisable and admired British designs of all time. But how did it become the icon it is today?

Where are Spode products made?

Today, Spode is owned by Portmeirion Group, a pottery and homewares company based in Stoke-on-Trent. Many items in Spode's Blue Italian and Woodland ranges are made at Portmeirion Group's factory in Stoke-on-Trent .

Is Spode's Blue Italian dinnerware dishwasher safe?

Introduced in 1816, Spode's Blue Italian dinnerware is a classic that has remained popular among collectors and diners throughout the centuries. This 12-piece set is ideal for daily dining that are all dishwasher- and microwave-safe.

What is Spode's stoneware?

Spode "Stone-China". After some early trials Spode perfected a stoneware that came closer to porcelain than any previously, and introduced his "Stone-China" in 1813. It was light in body, greyish-white and gritty where it was not glazed and approached translucence in the early wares; later Stone-Ware became opaque.

Where is Spode manufactured?

Since 2009, Spode is owned by Portmeirion Group, a pottery and homewares company based in Stoke-on-Trent. Many items in Spode's Blue Italian and Woodland ranges are made at Portmeirion Group's factory in Stoke-on-Trent.

Is Spode made in the UK?

Description. This item is made in Stoke-on-Trent, England.

Is Spode made in Italy?

How Spode Blue Italian Pieces is Made. Nestled in the heart of The Potteries, Stoke-on Trent, England, there they make Spode's Blue Italian.

When was Spode Italian made?

One of Spode's most famous patterns, the Italian pattern, also known as Blue Italian and Spode's Italian, was introduced by Spode in about 1816. It was in continuous production up to the closure of the factory in 2009.

Is all Spode made in china now?

Today Spode has been purchased by the Portmeirion Group, and is one of several brands it makes. And nowadays some pieces are made in other countries, including China.

How can you tell if Spode is made in England or china?

Spode has printed the country of origin on all of its pieces. If you purchased your set before 2006 it likely will state "made in England." Otherwise, the piece it will state "made in Malaysia," or China.

When was Spode Blue Italian first made?

1816First introduced in 1816, by Josiah Spode I's son, Josiah Spode II, the distinctive Blue Italian design was immediately popular and remains a best seller to this day. Over the years it has been produced on a wide variety of shapes in earthenware (and is manufactured in Stoke-on-Trent to this day).

When did Spode stop manufacturing in England?

2008Spode's factory was in continuous production from 1774 to 2008, when it finally closed (although the brand was subsequently purchased by Portmeirion, who continue to make Spode branded wares at their own factory in Stoke).

Does Spode Blue Italian have lead?

Spode Made in England “Italian” pattern newer dish: 25 ppm Lead (safe by all standards!)

What style is Spode blue Italian?

With its rich cobalt colours and classic rural scene, Spode's Blue Italian print is the epitome of blue and white porcelain. The design was launched more than 200 years ago to immediate popularity, and its star has continued to rise over the decades – it remains a bestseller to this day.

Is Spode good quality?

Josiah Spode (1733-1797) established his pottery company in Stoke-on-Trent in 1770. Spode developed some of the finest quality English bone china in existence and introduced his superior under glaze transferware printing process in order to enhance these bone china pieces in the early 1780s.

When did Spode factory close?

2008The Spode factory closed in 2008 when the holding company Royal Worcester went into administration. Spode and the Royal Worcester brand names were both bought by the Portmeirion Group in 2009, which still produces ceramics under the Spode name in Stoke-on-Trent.

Where is Spode pottery made?

Spode is an English brand of pottery and homewares produced by the company of the same name, which is based in Stoke-on-Trent, England. Spode was founded by Josiah Spode (1733–1797) in 1770, and was responsible for perfecting two extremely important techniques that were crucial to the worldwide success of the English pottery industry in ...

Where was Spode's shop?

Spode's London retail shop in Portugal Street went by the name of Spode, Son, and Copeland. Among the many surviving Spode documents are two shape books dated to about 1820 which contain thumbnail sketches of bone china objects with instructions to throwers and turners about size requirements.

What is blue underglaze transfer?

This was then dipped in the glaze and returned to the kiln for the glost firing. Blue underglaze transfer became a standard feature of Staffordshire pottery. Spode also used on-glaze transfers for other wares.

Who invented underglaze printing?

Josiah Spode I is credited with the introduction of underglaze blue transfer printing on earthenware in 1783–84. The Worcester and Caughley factories had commenced transfer printing underglaze and over glaze on porcelain in the early 1750s, and from 1756 overglaze printing was also applied to earthenware and stoneware. The processes for underglaze and overglaze decoration were very different. Overglaze "bat printing" on earthenware was a fairly straightforward process, and designs in a range of colours including black, red and lilac were produced. Underglaze "hot-press" printing was limited to the colours that would withstand the subsequent glaze firing, and a rich blue was the predominant colour.

Who is the Spode factory?

Josiah Spode is known to have worked for Thomas Whieldon from the age of 16 until he was 21. He then worked in a number of partnerships until he went into business for himself, renting a small potworks in the town of Stoke-on-Trent in 1767; in 1776 he completed the purchase of what became the Spode factory until 2008. His early products comprised earthenwares such as creamware (a fine cream-coloured earthenware) and pearlware (a fine earthenware with a bluish glaze) as well as a range of stonewares including black basalt, caneware, and jasper which had been popularised by Josiah Wedgwood. The history and products of the Spode factory have inspired generations of historians and collectors, and a useful interactive online exhibition was launched in October 2010.

Who owns Spode pottery?

His son, Josiah Spode II, was certainly responsible for the successful marketing of English bone china. Today, Spode is owned by Portmeirion Group, a pottery and homewares company based in Stoke-on-Trent.

When did Spode Ltd merge with Royal Worcester?

Under the name 'Spode Ltd' the same factories and business was continued after 1970. In 2006, the business merged with Royal Worcester. The merged company entered administration on 6 November 2008. The brand names Royal Worcester and Spode, the intellectual property and some of the stock were acquired by Portmeirion Group on 23 April 2009.

When was Spode's Blue Italian design created?

What’s the history of Spode’s Blue Italian design? The Blue Italian design was launched by Josiah Spode II in 1816, and this decorative vignette provided the perfect showcase for his father’s revolutionary blue underglaze transfer printing process.

What is Spode's blue Italian print?

With its rich cobalt colours and classic rural scene, Spode’s Blue Italian print is the epitome of blue and white porcelain. The design was launched more than 200 years ago to immediate popularity, and its star has continued to rise over the decades – it remains a bestseller to this day. So how did this distinctive pottery from Stoke-on-Trent go on to become a timeless icon in homes across the world?

What is Spode stamp?

Spode embodies a quintessentially British style and remains eminently collectable today. Through the years there have been various different Spode and Copeland-Spode marks and stamps, which correspond to the date of manufacture. These can help indicate the authenticity and age of a piece, so some research into the marks will help prospective collectors (Spode & Copeland Marks and Other Relevant Intelligence by Robert Copeland is an excellent resource). Some of the very earliest Spode works, however, remain unmarked and can be harder to identify.

Who is the founder of Spode Ceramics?

Through all this, Spode has held on to its tradition of quality materials and craftsmanship, cementing its name as a British byword for excellence. Josiah Spode was the founder of Spode ceramics. 3.

Who invented the blue Italian potter?

Indeed, it was Spode II who introduced the Blue Italian range.

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Product Description

Spode Blue Italian was made possible by Josiah Spode's perfection of blue under-glaze printing in 1784.This collection is a tapestry of blue scene's and figure's. Today we have an extensive collection of microwave and dishwasher safe dinnerware, giftware and accessories. This 12 piece set contains 4 each Dinner Plate, Salad Plate and Mug.

Overview

Later forms of the business

Messrs Spode were succeeded in the same business in c. 1833 by Copeland and Garrett, who often used the name Spode in their marks. In particular these are called 'Late Spode' and include productions of the so-called 'Felspar porcelain'. They also produced other kinds of bone china, earthenware, parian, etc. The partnership continued in this form until 1847. After 1847 the business continued until 1970 as W.T. Copeland and sons, and again the term 'Spode' or 'Late Sp…

Foundation

Spode "Stone-China"

See also

Sources

External links