Spode, a Slipper & Tumbledown Dick

Occasionally I like to concentrate on one gorgeous Spode pot for this blog - something that I think is beautiful and worthy of an in-depth look.

This delightful little pot fits the bill. It is a slipper inkwell. It is just a few inches long.

I have written about them and other ceramic shoes previously on this blog here: Spode, Shoes and Slippers.

This slipper inkwell (from a private collection) would have been part of a desk set. Only the wealthy, who were also educated, could afford and had need of these items which meant they were of the highest quality in ceramic body, surface decoration and shape design.

This one is made from bone china and is decorated in a pattern with a lovely name - Tumbledown Dick. Select the pattern name to take you to my Spode ABC for more.

Several versions of Tumbledown Dick were made in different colourways. This is in cobalt blue and gold - one of the most expensive combinations of decorating materials at this time. Like most of the pots in this sort of style at this period this would have been fired at least 5 times in bottle ovens during its different stages of manufacture.

It has pattern number 3967 which was first recorded in about 1824. Together with the Spode mark in this style this gives a date range of c1824 to 1833.

Handpainted backstamp on the 'sole' of the shoe

The 'sole' of this slipper inkwell is painted to resemble leather. I love it!

The large hole at the front was used to fill the inkwell with ink and would have had a matching, gilded bone china stopper, now missing. Unfortunately these tiny stoppers for inkwells, perfume bottles, hot water plates etc often get lost.

Spode slipper inkwell showing the stopper in place