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| Narcissus major: Curtis's Magazine 1788; Spode dessert plate c1808 |
Readers of this blog will know that I am not only fond of Spode (and all ceramics) but also love botanical illustration. When the two combine I am very happy.
On this blog post I am going to feature more
dessert service pieces decorated with Spode's pattern number 1100. This design was first recorded in the
pattern books in about 1808.
Pattern 1100 combines Spode's very white and translucent bone china, with a classical style gilded border. The design features different handpainted '
Bottanic plants in Centre'* on every piece of a service with more than one subject on larger pieces.
The botanical subjects were taken from
Curtis's Botanical Magazine. I have also written more widely on the subject of Spode and Curtis's Botanical Magazine in my article
Flora Ceramica.**
Pattern 1100 was produced on Spode's
bone china, still a fairly new invention at that time, but which was an immediate success with Spode's well-to-do customers. For those with a passion for flowers and all things botanical, as well as enough money, this was a perfect pattern to show off their wealth and knowledge and, at the same time, serve up fabulous desserts!
The image at the top shows '
Narcissus Major. Great Daffodil' from
Curtis's Botanical Magazine dated 1788 and a Spode plate from a dessert service in pattern 1100 which is handpainted with the same subject. You can now view
Curtis's Botanical Magazine volumes online at the fantastic
Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL).
I have kept the Latin names as they appear in Curtis. Some plants may have been reclassified since publication in the late 1700s.
So, it's time for more Spode pieces with their corresponding pages from
Curtis's Botanical Magazine.
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| Mesembryanthemum barbatum 1789*** |
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| Sisyrinchium iridiodes 1789 |
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| Sisyrinchium iridiodes - available in 2 versions! |
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| Lathyrus tingitanus 1789 |
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| Tradescantia virginica 1789 |
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| Cassia diamaecrista 1790 |
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| Fumaria glauca 1792 |
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| Spring crocus |
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| Spring crocus 1788 |
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| Helleborus lividus |
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| Helleborus lividus 1789 |
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| Shell shaped serving dish. Convolvulus purpureus |
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| Convolvulus purpureus 1790 |
Along with the plates there would have been centrepieces, comports (both 'tall' and 'low'), sets of shaped serving dishes, and pairs of cream and sugar tureens. Usually at this period the arrangement of the table would have set out in a formal manner. You can find more images of and information about Spode's dessert services dotted about this blog. Here are a few useful links:
Spode, Desserts and Pyramids
Spode and Pineapples
Spode and a Little Dish
Spode and Landscapes
Spode and Ice
* Instructions as written on the pattern book page
** '
Flora Ceramica', Curtis's Botanical Magazine, Volume 19 Part 3, August 2002, published by Blackwell, ISBN 1355-4905
*** NB the dates in the image captions are for the Curtis's Botanical Magazine unless otherwise stated. The pots date from about 1808 but before 1833.
