Pattern 685 Spode bone china Bute shape Coffee Can introduced by Josiah Spode II c1804. Ops the decorator has made a mistake with the blue enamel above the handle! Was the decorator distracted or accidentally nudged? I love these little quirks, each piece is unique and has its own 'fingerprint'. If you purchased a mass-produced, machine-made & decorated coffee can in the same pattern it would not give the same pleasure to use or own.
This striking design, all hand-painted, shows Egyptian, Greek or Roman influence again as with other early designs it incorporates enamels in cobalt blue & iron-red together with rich gilding. I think of it as an Egyptian fan but perhaps I am wrong, perhaps it is an Indian fan? I'm not sure where the design influence has come from on this piece. If you know please contact me as I would be interested to hear from you.
The decorator has also smudged a little blue enamel but I suppose when hand-painting porcelain on paid-per-piece work & in a factory c1804 this was inevitable. I very much doubt there was any hot water or hand washing facilities nearby. Plus workers were only paid for the good items coming out of the kiln, any breakages didn't produce a profit for anyone & there would always be breakages during firing.
The blue enamel has spread onto the handle a bit too much as well but I am being far too picky, this is a lovely piece of early Spode porcelain.
No pattern number or worker's marks on its base. This is usual for this period.