Game Pie Dish, Alenite, 'Henri IV' c1963 |
A new idea in the ceramic industry in the mid-20th century was for reliable ovenproof ceramics. Hence my interest in Spode's Alenite. It was the name given to a short-lived pottery body developed to be 'ovenproof'. It's the type of ceramic which became known as 'oven-to-tableware'.
With Alenite I am fascinated by the strange combination of the old and the new. Here was Alenite, at the forefront of ceramic innovation, and yet its shapes followed the design of moulded game pie dishes of the 1800s; and the main range produced in Alenite had the obscure name of Henri IV. I would have loved to have been at the board meeting that came up with the name! What were they thinking?
Copeland Game Pie Dish imitating pastry 1887 |
Spode Game Pie Dish imitating pastry c1800 |
Leaflet: 'Spode Henri IV', 1963 |
'From Oven to Top Table for Gourmets and Smart Hostesses'.
I always a good bit of marketing blurb!
A range of plates, pie dishes, game pie dishes, covered soup bowl and stand, round salad bowl and teacup & saucer are detailed. This range continues to be seen in Spode's UK catalogues until about 1966.
Patterns chosen for a new range of plainer, modern-looking Alenite shapes were the old favourites such as Italian pattern. So presumably the Spode company expected that the customers, who already favoured traditional Spode patterns for tableware, would be the ones interested in the new ovenproof body. Now they would be able to serve cooked food, in dishes which matched their dinner service, straight from the oven to the table. In particular these patterns would be aimed at Spode's main customer base, North America, which was traditional in taste.
Leaflet: 'Alenite flameproof ovenware' c1960s |
The marketing blurb in the red leaflet illustrated below states that:
'There's no doubt of Alenite's proud Spode origins when you look at the clear whiteness of the body material and fine smooth finish of the glaze. Bring it to the table and your Alenite is charmingly attractive. Better still match it to a full dinner service from the Spode range of earthenware in the same patterns.'
Stew Pot, Alenite, Trade Winds pattern c1964-1970 |
Leaflet: 'Alenite flameproof ovenware' c1970 |
'Flameware so new, so remarkable and so beautiful
that every discerning woman will covet it.'
that every discerning woman will covet it.'
"Alenite formulations contained high levels of alumina (22-25%). In addition the flux system was one based on lithia. These materials gave high physical strength and low thermal expansion - both needed for good thermal shock performance and an excellent product for oven-to-tableware.
This formulation continued into the 1970s but the Alenite marketing name had been dropped by then and it was referred to simply as stoneware. Alenite products and the stone china derivatives will [2006] continue to give good oven-to-tableware service.
The difficulties with Alenite formulations were two-fold. The material costs were extremely high and the thermal expansion characteristics made glaze fit demanding (crazing even in the warehouse was not unknown). The following years therefore saw continuing change to the product until it was a simple vitreous body still adequate for oven-to-tableware but 'technically not so good' as the Alenite.
Eventually the cookware ranges were transferred to [Spode's] sister company Worcester Porcelain for commercial reasons."
Casserole, Alenite, Sussex shape, Dauphine c1964 |
Backstamp for Dauphine pattern |
Two patterns were designed for the shape: Dauphine with pattern number S3381 and Pacifico with pattern number S3382. They were marketed as the Lumina range. Oven-to-tableware pieces accompanied them on the Alenite body.
Casseroles, Alenite, Sussex shape, Pacifico c1965 |
Backstamp for Pacifico pattern; B denotes 1965 |
Sadly neither the shape nor the patterns were a success for Spode. As mentioned above Spode's biggest market in North America preferred traditional patterns and shapes. Little was exported, although the shape was sold into Canada and into the home market i.e. the UK.
A backstamp for Alenite with Copeland name 1960s |
A backstamp for white Alenite, no Copeland name 1960s |
Plate, Alenite, Henri IV 1960s |