Pattern 2646 Spode Stone China Dinner Plate, this Spode design has become known as 'Willis' & this particular pattern was produced c1817. The 'Willis' design first appeared at Spode c1814 as pattern 2147 decorated with three floral sprays around its border in true Famille Rose style, it was a straight forward copy of an 18th century Chinese Export plate.
Spode's next pattern 2148 was much the same as 2147 except it lacked the butterfly hovering over the cherry blossom flowers, the small inner border & the brown enamel edge of the previous pattern. An example of this pattern has been found in a more robust Stone China marked on the front of the plate 'Willis, Thatch'd House' and on its base with the Spode Stone China backstamp. This matches eleven old Spode copper engravings held at the Museum Trust. Obviously, Willis was the owner of the Thatch'd House hostelry who desired a hard-wearing plate for his business which is how this pattern has acquired its name.
Another variation of pattern 2147 was quickly developed this time with a mid blue ground over the entire plate, this was Spode's pattern 2170. A lovely colour photograph of Spode's patterns 2147 & 2170 can be seen in Steven Smith's beautifully presented book, 'Spode & Copeland, over Two Hundred years of Fine China & Porcelain' published in 2005 on pages 43 & 55 (including dollar valuations at the time of print).
You may recognise the border design on this colourful plate above because it is the same one used for Spode's iconic Italian pattern with the addition of red & green enamels. 'Willis' was obviously a popular Spode ceramic design during this Regency period & the same centre design was used for their pattern 2647 together with the border design 'Mosaic'; this can be seen illustrated (black & white) in Leonard Whiter's book, 'Spode, a History of the Family, Factory & Wares from 1733 to 1833' illustration 287 in my 1978 edition.
Searching through my David Drakard & Paul Holdway book, 'Spode Transfer Printed Ware 1784-1833', I can find no mention of Willis design, it seems to have been missed?
The outline of the design was printed in black & the decorators had to fill in all the colours in their appropriate places extremely carefully. Obviously great patience was necessary but don't forget this was paid-by-the-piece work & only the ones which survived several firings in the kilns to reach the point of sale were actually paid for!
Here is a lovely looking base, so clear & clean, just like it was made yesterday. It has the blue printed Spode Stone China seal or backstamp & a hand painted pattern number '2646' in red enamel together with a decorator's mark also in red.
Not bad for 200+ years!