Monday, 21 July 2008

• Currently Listening Wagner: Tristan Und Isolde see related

  A Fond Farewell To A "Legendary English Company"

  Mention the name of English Bone China and any serious collector will automatically think of the name "Spode", the English company whose founder invented that fine transluscent ware.                                                           Noted throughout the Victorian Era as one of the preeminent of English Porcelain and Earthenware companies (then known as Copeland Spode)- they employed some the of finest Artisans and never forsook quality and every piece bearing their trademark was noted for its outstanding artistry and workmanship. In the 20th century Copeland Spode was noted for its unwavering commitment to traditional quality craftsmanship.

  One could visit their factory which had remained on ITS ORIGINAL factory site since 1770 and see craftsmen and women creating copperplates for transferring the timeless English pattern "Blue Italian"- which had been in continuous production at the factory since 1816 (though some evidence suggests the original date to be 1813).

   In 1970 the Copeland family ended its association with the company and the firm became known as Spode Limited- the quality remained quite high and unlike many other English pottery and porcelain factories- Spode was withstanding the trend of outsourcing their quality products to Asian Countries. Sadly, this wasn't to be for long.

   As of Spring  of this Year, Spode has discontinued manufacturing all of its fine earthenware (Imperialware) dinnerware and giftware in America. Instead the company has outsourced its entire line of imperialware to Malaysia and China. The Classicly English SPode "Blue Room" Collection is no longer being hand crafted in the same factory using the same methods as when it was first made, instead it is being made in Malaysia at the pottery owned by "Oriental Ceramics SDN BHD" (www.claytangroup.com).

  Spode's revered Woodland dinnerware line (noted for its unmistakably English style and classic English craftsmanship), Blue Italian, Red Italian, Camilla and the FAMED and highly collected Christmas Tree pattern, are all now being made at the Malaysian "Claytan" factory and at various facilities in China.

  Spode will continue to craft their fine Bone China lines in a NEW facility they have constructed just outside of Stoke, it seems the original factory site has seen its days as it is scheduled to be redeveloped and parts of it demolished. The small staff of workman at the new Spode facility will continue to make Spode's Stafford Flowers, Golden Valley, Lancaster Cobalt and other fine Bone China patterns, as well as some of the current Royal Worcester Bone China patterns (since the historic Royal Worcester Factory closed in 2006).

  Even though Spode will continue making some wares in England (an estimated 20% of its product offerings- Bone China), with the end of all earthenware production and the closure of the original facility it is truly- as one reporter put it- an End of an era.

   

  • 10:43 PM
  • 90 Views
  • 0 eProps
  • 0 Comments