Pattern 3139 Spode bone china Soup Plate of indented shape decorated with a hand-painted central floral posy with five further small floral sprigs surrounding it. The border is moulded with 'Spear Leaf Embossed' which is a completely non-repetitive & exceptionally well composed floral wreath & ribbon design. It sits upon a wide band of cobalt blue enamel & has rich gilt dentil edges either side of it & profuse gilt highlights. The effect is both pretty & sumptuous. This pattern was introduced c1820.
Spear Leaf Embossed is described in Leonard Whiter's book on Spode as 'Introduced about 1820, its use never became common & examples are rare'. A dinner plate in this Spode pattern 3139 is also illustrated in that same book (black & white photograph 204) & was recorded as being owned by R S Copeland Esq.
A similar Spode Soup Plate in this same pattern 3139 is part of the Fitzwilliam Museum Collection, Cambridge which can be seen here:
Spode pattern 3139 Soup Plate in profile
This Spode Soup Plate is marked to its base with both 'SPODE', it's pattern number '3139' & a decorator's mark '4' in red enamel.