07 October 2013

Spode and Autumn

It's October and the leaves are beginning to colour beautifully and the berries and rosehips ripening to rich colours. This Spode design called Autumn is evocative of this favourite of English seasons. The design has a charming simplicity typical of the mid-twentieth century.

Autumn pattern on Empire shape tureen and lid
Autumn pattern dates from 1934. The design has pattern number S809. It also has registered number 798464 which registered the design with the British Patent Office on 4th December 1934. It was produced on earthenware with a pale creamy yellow glaze called Royal Jasmine - click the link on the name to go to my Spode ABC and scroll down to Royal Jasmine for more information. 
Autumn pattern backstamps
The backstamp on this ware often states that the design was by Ronald Copeland. He was Managing Director and partner in Spode firm, then operating as W. T. Copeland and Sons Ltd. In fact his initials, RRJC, are incorporated in the design at the base of a twig of rosehips.

However a photograph of the pattern in the Spode archive is annotated in pencil on the back Designed by the late Art Director T. Hassall suggested by the view from the High Chase home of Mr. Ronald Copeland.  I am not sure about this home of RRJC but think it was in Colwich, Staffordshire. It is not unknown at Spode for different designers of different ranks to claim the design of a particular pattern and often there is no definitive documentation in the archive to support either case!

The pattern is printed in brown and then hand coloured with all that gorgeous colour. The shape of the dinner ware is Empire shape with a definite Art Deco feel about it. 

Suite of ware in Autumn pattern, 1930s