Pattern 981 Spode bone china Bute shape Coffee Can introduced in 1806. This is a Chinese inspired design printed in iron-red enamel by Spode's newly developed method of on-glaze 'Pluck & Dust' printing. Here is a link to explain the process, http://printedbritishpotteryandporcelain.com/how-was-it-made/pluck-dust-overglaze-printing-hot-press The print is known as P501 'Bamboo' and has gilt highlights, it is very charming, graceful & simple.
A few light smudges on the inside & a beautiful gilt handle
It is suggested in David Drakard & Paul Holdway's book, 'Spode Transfer Printed Ware 1784-1833' that Josiah Spode II was looking for a quicker & cheaper form of decoration when he developed 'Pluck & Dust' printing in order to take more market share from Josiah Wedgwood who was the market leader in hand-painted creamware decorated with simple border designs. Creamware was a type of pottery rather than porcelain.
'Pluck & Dust' printing used sheets of tissue paper instead of glue bats which transferred a stiff oil image to the ceramic object and the enamel colour was dusted on to the oil image where it stuck. Iron-red was a particularly difficult & dangerous colour as it contained lead & required lower temperatures for firing.
The 'Pluck & Dust' method allowed for printing a far greater size than could be achieved with Bat printing but on-glaze enamels were not as hard wearing as underglaze printing. Some Spode Bat Printed & Pluck & Dust printed porcelains show wear to their patterns & saucers were particularly prone to scratching. This example is a beauty.
This is a very handsome coffee can. 'Bamboo' design was used for Spode's tea, dinner & dessert wares & was the first 'Pluck & Dust' pattern they produced. It is also another Spode pattern on which the special Prince of Wales backstamp has been occasionally found - these are pieces which were generally made for the sole use of the Prince of Wales although perhaps pattern 981 doesn't conform to this as quite a few examples can be found & generally they are not marked with this special stamp on their bases.
I suspect that perhaps pattern 981 was already in production when the Prince of Wales visited Josiah Spode II's pottery factory in 1806 & it would have immediately appealed to the Prince of Wales who had recently extended & improved the Dining Room at the Brighton Pavilion with an 'Indian' theme. Indian, during this period referred to anything derived from the Far East whether that was India, China, Japan, Egypt etc.
For further information & images regarding the Prince of Wales special backstamp please see Spode patterns 500, 1112, 1122, 1168, 1185 & 1233 (all illustrated).
Kiln dust & slight bruising but no manufacturer's marks