Spode and Aesops Fables

I was recently enjoying reading a 44 Scotland Street novel by Alexander McCall Smith. It is worth buying just for the title alone - The Unbearable Lightness of Scones. The Spode connection is that part of the tale features a 'blue Spode teacup'. These books are illustrated throughout with drawings by Iain McIntosh.

The 'blue Spode teacup' was illustrated with a Spode mug not a teacup - sorry I know I am being a bit pedantic here! Interestingly, and perhaps quite sadly, I was able to identify the pattern in the black and white illustration (I must get a life....as I can also tell you that TV's Poirot, amongst others, uses Spode too). The pattern is the lovely multi-scene pattern called Aesops Fables in its late 20th century version.

So here is some background to this delightful pattern.

Spode soup plate, printed in green (not brown, sorry, poor image) 
featuring The Lion in Love, c1830

Backstamp to the above

Aesops Fables pattern was first introduced in about 1830 at the end of the Spode period (c1770-1833). It is a multi-scene pattern which illustrates stories from the famous Aesop’s Fables series. The pattern had a specially engraved backstamp which incorporated the name of the fable illustrated on the piece. Pieces made after 1833 in the Copeland and Garrett period have an amended backstamp to incorporate the new name of the company.

Copeland & Garrett octagonal plate,
printed in green featuring
The Lion The Bear and The Fox, c1835
from Lovers of Blue and White

The designs were taken from illustrations used in the 1793 edition of the Reverend Samual Croxall's. The Fables of Aesop With a Life of the Author and Embellished with one Hundred Twelve Plates. Croxall was published many times and in many formats and illustrated by many artists.

The early Spode pattern is found mostly in green with other colours including blue being rare. A full list of subjects used can be found in Spode Printed Ware by D. Drakard and P. Holdway (details are on my booklist).

Copeland catalogue page (detail) showing Fables, 1882

Later in 1879 three designs from Aesop's Fables were registered with the British Patent Office by the Spode company. These were: The Stork and the Frog with registered number 331597 on 28th January; The Eagle and the Tortoise with registered number 333235 on 12th March and The Pot and Kettle with registered number 333236 on 28th March. Although based on the same fables these are completely different but equally stunning designs and follow the style of the Aesthetic Movement of the period.

In the late 1990s the pattern was reintroduced as part of Spode's Blue Room Collection and in 2002 as part of the Signature Collection on a large size dog bowl.

See also my Spode ABC.

Happy 'Birthday' Mr Spode I

Josiah Spode I was baptised on March 23rd 1733. His exact date of birth is not known.*

He was probably born in Lower Lane or Lane Delph near Stoke in North Staffordshire, England.

Josiah Spode I was the founder of the Spode company. You can find out more about the owners of the Spode company on my page Who Owned Spode?

*Updated Feb 2020 with thanks to Peter Roden for sharing his research

Spode and The Old Bailey

Gibson's Road Map, 1766

In 1778 Josiah Spode II went to London. At the age of 23, this eldest son of the founder of the Spode company, Josiah Spode I, was already an accomplished master potter trained by his father and by now heavily involved in the family businesses.

This young entrepreneur was not off on a day trip or even a fact-finding mission. He was leaving rural North Staffordshire to go to the capital city with his wife and young family. He was travelling with wares made at the Spode factory to set up a new home and a separate retail business in London to sell Spode as well as other manufacturers' wares. Quite an adventure!

To work in London he needed to join a guild. As there was no guild connected to this new industry of potting, he joined the Guild of Spectacle Makers. Above you can see an 18th century road map of the style that Spode II perhaps used to find his way to London on this adventure. Once there he would continue the Spode business practice of selling to the wealthy and find, not only new customers, but also pick up and follow the latest trends, make important contacts and keep an eye on the competitors. It was a success from the start.

Old Bailey Online, report for 24 Feb 1790

Putting flesh on the bones of this fascinating part of the Spode story is difficult. As far as we know there is no Spode family correspondence but this is where the Old Bailey Online project comes to our aid. In February 1790 a record with reference to theft from Mr. Spode is recorded. At the suspect's house, amongst other things an oval black teapot is discovered.

Spode black basalt chocolate pot, c1800

A very elegant engine turned, black basalt, Spode chocolate pot is illustrated here which gives some idea of the style of the teapot in question. (Shards of almost full size pieces have been discovered during random 'digs' on the Spode site and an example can be seen below). William Copeland, the first of the Copeland dynasty to be associated with the company, is giving this evidence. Also speaking at the trial, Josiah Spode II mentions fine blue painted goods hidden, ready for theft, and has them marked so he can see what happens to them to try to catch the alleged thief. The prisoner in this case was found Not Guilty.

Old Bailey Online' report for 24 Feb 1790

On the Old Bailey pages you can find more about Spode and of course other people too - perhaps even your ancestors.

For another eventful day in Spode II's life click on this date 9th September 1789 where you can read about a dramatic event which including the following items in a trunk being stolen from Mr Spode: 'one hundred and twenty-two guineas in gold; and bills of exchange; and a deal of linen'. The prisoner in this case was found Guilty and 'Transported for seven years'.

'Fine blue painted goods' c1790

Black basalt teapot, large shard, c1800

An interesting footnote to this story is that a grandson of Josiah Spode II's father, Josiah Spode I, emigrated to the penal colony of Van Dieman's Land (now Tasmania). He went with his brother Sam Spode and was yet another member of the Spode family named Josiah. He became Principal Superintendent of Convicts. He had nothing to do with the Spode company. He has descendants still living in Tasmania. 

'Distant view of Hobart Town, Van Diemen’s Land, from Blufhead' c1825

Recommended Reading 4: 'Copyhold Potworks ......' by Peter Roden

'Copyhold Potworks & Housing in the Staffordshire Potteries 1700-1832' by Peter Roden; published 2008; ISBN 978-0-9559317-0-3

For my recommended reading number 4 I have chosen an important book. Whilst not Spode specific, it is hugely significant for anyone interested in the history of Spode. It contains fascinating new research by author Peter Roden, a descendant of Josiah Spode I, with a special interest in Spode history.

I have found Roden's research of invaluable use when putting flesh on the bones of the early Spode businesses. This book brings us detailed new information about these businesses. It gives a more detailed look at property owned by the Spode family and helps to date more accurately the beginnings of the Spode business rather than the oft-repeated phrase 'established 1770'.

During the period covered by this book, 1700-1832, the copyhold business in the court of the manor of Newcastle under Lyme provides a unique record of the development of the central area of the Staffordshire Potteries. Over 50 different potworks sites are mentioned in these records; fields can be followed into housing developments; and for many of the thousands of people involved in the developments, there are details of their family history and financial affairs. Who knows, this might be where you find that missing link in your family history researches.

When you learn that there are over 12,000 pages of minutes in these old manor court records then it is not surprising that Roden describes it as his '15 year gestation period' for this book! The amount of diligent and careful research that has gone into this publication is astounding.

Don't be fooled into thinking this book is just a list of potworks and businesses. It is a very enjoyable read and for anyone unfamiliar with these types of records, like me, the first part of the book explains the complexity of interpreting the archaic formalities found in copyhold records. It concludes with several appendices, including a description of how the manor court operated, who ran it, and what other business it was still doing at this time as its wider medieval functions declined. The book is extensively indexed, including the names of almost 2,000 people.

There are maps and diagrams, tables and annotated plans. The illustration on the cover is of Spode's 'Meadowe and Potworks potovens pothouses...' of the late 1700s. It's worth buying it just for that if you are a Spode enthusiast.

The Meadow name was still in use on the site up to its closure in 2009, by then relating to a modern building. Maybe any commercial development on the site in the near future will keep this name alive. I like the idea of a Meadow Café!

I admit to a definite bias towards Spode but every time I pick this book up I learn something new about The Potteries, its industry, associated properties and people. For anyone who thought a complete record existed of all the businesses connected with the famous pottery industry in Stoke-on-Trent at this formative time, think again, for here are new businesses and names previously unknown.

The Manor Court records title and also signatures
of Josiah Spode I and his sons
Josiah Spode II and Samuel Spode

This is a must-have book for anyone with a love of Spode history and of the ceramic industry in general.