11 Facts About Spode

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 in 1770, and was responsible for perfecting two extremely important techniques that were crucial to the worldwide success of the English pottery industry in the century to follow.

Josiah Spode is often credited with developing, around 1790, the formula for fine bone china that was generally adopted by the industry.

Since 2009, Spode is owned by Portmeirion Group, a pottery and homewares company based in Stoke-on-Trent.

Josiah Spode is known to have worked for Thomas Whieldon from the age of 16 until he was 21.

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Spode 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.

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.

When Spode employed the skilled engraver Thomas Lucas and printer James Richard, both of the Caughley factory, in 1783 he was able to introduce high quality blue printed earthenware to the market.

Many fine examples of the elder Spode's productions were destroyed in a fire at Alexandra Palace, London in 1873, where they were included in an exhibition of nearly five thousand specimens of English pottery and porcelain.

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'.