Pattern 2117 Spode Stone China Trio decorated in a Japanese Kakiemon design & introduced c1814. There is some uncertainty over the date of introduction of Josiah Spode II's Stone China but it is around this time & I have never come across this particular pattern in bone china. Stone China was very strong & durable and no doubt Spode was aiming these wares at a newly emerging market - the 'middle classes'. You will notice that the coffee can is still Bute shape but the tea cup is in a new, low shape & without the Spode kinked handle.
The ceramic industry frequently faced adverse times. The difficult Napoleonic War years since 1803 & now the American War years of 1812-1815 created intense competition between surviving potters and was keeping prices very keen. Competition in design, shape, variety, quality & price gave rewards to the successful potters and bankruptcy & failure to others.
Josiah Spode II had been operating at the quality end of the market since 1806 and had well-established connections among Britain's aristocracy. However, by introducing Stone China he was looking to future markets. The 'middle classes' wanted china in imitation of the 'upper classes' but Josiah Spode II was astute enough to realise that a more hard-wearing & practical ceramic was needed for this particular market.
c1814 highly colourful, highly fashionable & highly desirable, so much so that in 1817 Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III visited Spode's London Showrooms/Warehouse to inspect his wares & whilst there she ordered a Stone China Service for the Royal Household. Sadly there is no evidence that the Spode order was delivered before her death in 1818 and there is no indication of the pattern she chose either which is a great shame.
All these pieces of Spode Stone China are marked with the Spode blue printed 'seal' (in Chinese/Japanese manner) and with the pattern number '2117' written in red enamel. Spode is branding his goods more obviously now. You will notice also that the tea cup & its handle are a different shape (no kink); I believe this shape was introduced at the same time for Stone China wares c1814.
Spode New Oval shape Stone China Teapot in their pattern 2117 produced c1814. This is a lovely, vibrant & colourful Japanese Kakiemon inspired design. The outline of the design was printed in cobalt blue enamel & fired in the bottle kilns. The decorators then carefully filled in the various coloured enamels according to their temperature requirements for firing & lastly the gilding.
This Spode Teapot has a fine hairline crack to its body but apart from that it appears to be in very good condition & displays beautifully.
This design is sometimes called 'The Tree of Life'
The old gnarled tree is full of flowers
Inside you can see the usual Spode domed strainer
Both the Teapot & the lid are marked to their bases with the Spode blue printed Stone China Seal which was designed to look oriental. There is also the Spode pattern number for this design '2117' together with a decorator's mark, both written in red enamel.