Pattern 456 Spode bone china Bute shape Coffee Can. This is a variation of Spode's pattern 447 & has an additional wide band of cobalt blue enamel to the top rim overlaid with an interlacing oval gilt design which was very popular c1800. This pattern was introduced by Josiah Spode II c1803.
This coffee can has the usual Spode handle which is 'kinked' & carries the gilding pattern which is associated with Josiah Spode II's porcelain of the earliest years of the 19th century.
What a beauty it is!
But how sad to reflect that when this piece was produced at the Spode factory it coincided with a terrible accident.
In November 1802, Josiah Spode II had purchased a steam engine from Boulton & Watt, (these steam engines were used through-out the Pottery district for grinding raw materials) & the accident occurred soon afterwards as reported here:
"A lamentable accident occurred to him in 1803. His father had just completed the erection of a steam-engine and mill-work, for grinding of materials required in the manufacture of pottery & porcelain. Mr Spode was inspecting the operations, when a crown wheel struck his hat; and, in lifting his arm to protect himself, the hand passed between the cogs of the wheels, and immediate amputation became indispensable."
The victim was Spode II's youngest son Spode III, he would have been about 26 & he had trained since a young boy to become a Master Potter; in one single moment his whole career had disappeared. He did continue working at the factory until c1812 but obviously his capacity & enthusiasm (together with general health) would have been greatly diminished. This may be the earliest recorded accident due to machinery in the pottery industry.
You can see where the decorator has blobbed some red & blue enamel on the handle by accident. These Spode coffee cans were all hand-painted & you can often see little mistakes. I love the fact that the vine leaves look rather patriotic.
A few specks of kiln dust inside.
This Spode Coffee Can is not marked to its base in any way which was quite usual for this early period but it does have an old collector's label.