Pattern 715 Spode bone china Bute shape Coffee Can, this design is known as the 'Dollar' pattern because the old gnarled & distorted tree looks like the dollar symbol. The origins of this design are Oriental and probably it is derived from Japanese mid 17th century Kakiemon. Josiah Spode II introduced this pattern c1804 and it is very interesting that fashion & taste is looking to the Far East again rather than Europe.
The design is all hand-painted and uses cobalt blue & iron-red enamels together with lots of flashing gold. These Japanese Kakiemon/Imari inspired designs became known as 'Japans' or 'good candlelight patterns' & were phenomenally popular with those who could afford such luxuries.
They were heavily decorated and would have required much care & detailed work with both the painting and gilding, making them expensive items.
Looking lovely! This pattern uses the simple border design seen in Spode's patterns 282 & 714.
The 'Dollar' pattern
Some tiny specks of kiln dust inside
This coffee can is marked in red enamel with its pattern number and a worker's mark. The fact that this coffee can is marked with its pattern number & the pattern number is in iron-red enamel suggests that it was perhaps produced a few years later than the date of the pattern introduction. Popular patterns, of which this was one, were produced for many years, this one may have been made c1810 or even ten years later.