Pattern 621 Spode bone china 'Royal Flute' shape Coffee Can, bat printed with 'Temple' print P613-1.  Royal Flute shape was introduced c1800 & pattern 621 was introduced c1804 by Josiah Spode II. 
In Robert Copeland's book, 'Spode's Willow Pattern & other designs after the Chinese' he notes on page 48 that 'Mandarin III', which is another of Spode's blue printed patterns in the chinoiserie style is recorded in the pattern books as number 619 c1804. 
You can see an area of the printed design which doesn't line up & smudges, it wouldn't have been an easy task to fit a bat print over this undulating surface.
Royal Flute shape has ridges from the top of the can to half way down.  They are seen better on the last photograph below.
A slightly wavy top rim is created by the flutes
Print was applied inside, outside, down the handle & on the base.  Another option available to customers was the inclusion of a gilt top rim & gilt down the handle.
This blue printed 'Spode' backstamp dates from 1800-1820.  There is also a worker's mark in the shape of a blue printed triangle.
The vertical ridges of Royal Flute shape show up best in this photograph.  You can see where the decorator has struggled with his/her task.
Back to Top