Josiah Spode was an English potter and the founder of the English Spode pottery works which became famous for the high quality of its wares. He is often credited with the establishment of blue underglaze transfer printing in Staffordshire in 1781–84, and with the definition and introduction in c. 1789–91 of the improved formula for bone china which thereafter remained the standard for all English wares of this kind.
Josiah Spode I (1733–1797) (N. Freese)
Josiah Spode family tomb, St Peter Vincula church, Stoke-on-Trent.
Spode family tombs.
Spode is an English brand of pottery and homewares produced in Stoke-on-Trent, England. Spode was founded by Josiah Spode (1733–1797) in 1770, and was responsible for perfecting two important techniques that were crucial to the worldwide success of the English pottery industry in the 19th century: transfer printing on earthenware, and the formula for fine bone china.
Dish, 1831, manufactured by Spode Ceramic Works V&A Museum no. 566A-1902
Entrance to Spode Pottery Works, Stoke
Image: Spode 1
Image: Spode 3