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Catalogue page c1900 |
The design was immediately popular and remained a best seller. Over the years it was produced on a wide variety of shapes in earthenware. One Spode catalogue from the 1920s/1930s records over 700 different shapes available - quite a feat of production.
Dinnerware was also produced on bone china until about 1976 and decorative wares until about 1986. Italian was also produced in black from about 1954 until about 1974 on decorative items. In 1962 a limited range of tableware was made in black with pattern number S3372.
In 1998, whilst at the Spode Museum, I calculated Blue Italian was still produced on a huge range of shapes - 58 tableware pieces, 10 cookware and 30 giftware.
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Pattern 2614 c1818 |
Backstamp to plate in pattern 2614 |
Tilman Lichtenthaeler, a Spode collector and researcher, carried out an architectural quest to trace the building types in an attempt to unravel the mystery of the source of the Italian scene. He found there is no one place in Italy that seems to correspond to all the features included in the picture. The scene is a composition made up of several elements. The ruin on the left, although architecturally incorrect, might have been based on the Great Bath at Tivoli, near Rome. The row of houses along the left bank of the river is similar to those of the Latium area near Umbria, north of Rome. The castle in the distance is of a type which occurs only in Northern Italy in the regions of Piedmont and Lombardy.
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Tureen, cover & stand, earthenware, Italian pattern c1816 |
In 1989 the Spode Museum purchased a late seventeenth century pen and wash drawing by an unknown artist. The rendering of the scene is very close to that of the Italian pattern and may well have been the original inspiration for the famous Spode design.
In 2007 and 2010 I received new information from a private researcher recording a painting of remarkable similarity to Spode’s Italian scene which was formerly in Schloss Paffendorf near Cologne. All this can be researched further and perhaps the true origin of the design may one day be known. Most of this information can be found in the Spode archive where I have also passed on the most recent research to be added to the relevant papers.
In 2007 and 2010 I received new information from a private researcher recording a painting of remarkable similarity to Spode’s Italian scene which was formerly in Schloss Paffendorf near Cologne. All this can be researched further and perhaps the true origin of the design may one day be known. Most of this information can be found in the Spode archive where I have also passed on the most recent research to be added to the relevant papers.
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Page from 'Illustrated Italian Price List 1930 |
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Copeland & Garrett, plate, earthenware, Italian pattern printed in green c1833 |
Backstamp on green Italian plate |
By the end of production at the Spode factory much of the Italian pattern was produced overseas. In 2009 Portmeirion purchased the Spode brand. Italian is in production again with the Spode brand under the ownership of the Portmeirion Group. By 2017 the range from Portmeirion was much reduced.
The Spode archive holds a great deal of material with reference to the Italian pattern such as pattern books, catalogues, price lists, researches by individuals both staff and independent, collectors, enthusiasts and curators as well as marketing material up to 2008. Some Spode collectors collect just this pattern and some specialise further collecting only the oldest pieces dating from c1816-1833.
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Cherries in Spode Blue Italian Bowl |
Lovers of this pattern should also see paintings by Jeanne Illeyne such as Cherries in a Spode Blue Italian Bowl shown here courtesy of the artist. Click/tap her name or use my Links page to explore her work.
Thanks to all those who have shared their research and enthusiasm for this pattern over the years.
Wow! This is more information than I ever thought I'd encounter about this pattern. Many years ago I began collecting what I now know to be Spode's Tower. But for years I thought it was Blue Italian due to an error in a magazine. I will look to see if you have covered Spode's Tower somewhere else on the site. Many thanks, I came upon this page in an effort to learn more about the origins of the transferware designs for an article I am writing on blue and white china for our local newspaper. Wonderful information clearly brought out! I am delighted to find your blog!
ReplyDeleteI have removed my incorrect link to information about Spode's Tower pattern - here is the correct one http://spodehistory.blogspot.com/2011/02/tower-pattern.html
ReplyDelete