Spode and Alenite

Game Pie Dish, Alenite, 'Henri IV' c1963

In the late 18th/early 19th century the Spodes were constantly developing their skills and experimenting with new techniques in pottery manufacture, then still in its infancy. Striving for new products of the highest quality became synonymous with the Spode name. The development/invention of bone china is one of Spode's most famous achievements. That desire to continue to experiment and produce high quality, innovative ceramic product continued up until the early 2000s.

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

The original Game Pie Dishes were intended to imitate pastry pies by using an unglazed caneware body which looked just like pastry. The Copeland one shown here of 1887 was glazed inside to hold the pie filling but older ones, such as the Spode one below, of about 1800, had a separate, removable, glazed, inner dish which held the filling. The inner dish is not visible in the photo.

Spode Game Pie Dish imitating pastry c1800

Derived from one of Spode's famous pottery bodies, Fine Stone, Alenite was developed to be specifically suitable for ovenproof ware with experiments starting in about 1957. The name was created to recognise the alumina base of the formula and to honour Spode's Chief Chemist, Cyril Allen, who developed it. Initially produced only in the familiar grey of the Fine Stone body, a white version was also produced, discontinued before the grey, at an unknown date but probably before 1970.

Leaflet: 'Spode Henri IV', 1963

The 1963 leaflet above for Henri IV [sometimes seen as Henry IV] design is entitled:

'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 leaflet illustrated above, 'Alenite flameproof ovenware', shows patterns Luneville and Blue Italian. The K prefix to the numbers indicates a shape number and most of these were first recorded in about 1964 and 1965.

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

Some of the patterns available on the modern, plain shape in white Alenite as well as Blue Italian were: Blue Bird, Luneville, (also known as Marlborough Sprays), Apples, Dauphine and Pacifico.

Leaflet: 'Alenite flameproof ovenware' c1970

The red leaflet above also includes a phrase very much of its time:

'Flameware so new, so remarkable and so beautiful
that every discerning woman will covet it.'

In 2006, whilst curator of the Spode museum, I was lucky enough to be able to discuss Alenite with the always helpful Mike Dutton of Spode's Technical Department, who told me:

"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 

Following the success of Royal College shape for a modern bone china range it was suggested that a modern shape for earthenware also be developed. Sussex shape was introduced in about 1964 on the earthenware body.

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