Spode
works, Stoke-upon-Trent. Copyright: The
Potteries Museum & Art Gallery 2002.
Josiah Spode began his pottery making business
in the 1760s. Today it is the only business in
the area to still be
working on its original site.
Josiah Spode began to work in the pottery
industry at
the age of seven and in 1749, at the age of
sixteen, he was apprenticed to
Thomas Whieldon
who was the foremost potter in the area. After 5
years apprenticeship he worked in a number of
pottery factories before setting up his own
company in the early 1760s.
Spode is famous for its blue and white ware
and it was Josiah Spode I, in 1784, who developed a
technique of printing blue underglaze onto
earthenware from copper plates. This
process led to the development by Spode in 1790 of the famous
willow pattern which is still
in production today.
Spode's other major achievement was
perfecting a recipe for fine bone china. By
1799 fine bone china was being sold by Spode and
was unrivalled in its quality.
Josiah Spode II followed his father into the
company and set up a shop and showroom in London
in1778. He also appointed a travelling sales
representative who marketed Spode ware around
the country.
