Spode Pearlware shaped Dessert Serving Dish decorated with hand-painted cobalt blue & gilt flower sprigs & swags c1797-1800. Pearlware is earthenware/pottery with a bluish glaze which was popular in the late 18th century & early 19th century.
This Spode dish is very early Josiah Spode II & may or may not have had a pattern number. It was part of the personal AGC Copeland Collection (number 771) & was illustrated in Robert Copeland's book, 'Spode's Willow Pattern & other designs after the Chinese' (see page 16, illustration number 11). Described in his book as, 'Painted with sprigs, festoons and scratch edge in Cyanine 105 with linking festoons and edge, hand gilded'. 'It is impressed with the very large SPODE mark, and shows a strong resemblance to a Caughley piece'.
It was sold as part of the Copeland China Collection in 2013 & subsequently found its way to Moorabool Antiques, Geelong, Australia along with many other pieces of antique Spode. You can see the details here: https://moorabool.com/product/spode-creamware-dish-underglaze-blue-swags-gilt-details-copeland-collection-c-1795/
This Spode Pearlware Dessert Dish has a very early, clear & large impressed 'SPODE' mark. In both of Robert Copeland's books, Spode's Willow Pattern & other designs after the Chinese' & 'Spode & Copeland Marks & other relevant intelligence' this mark is recorded as number 1d. What a great museum piece!
Josiah Spode II knew the value of branding his quality wares & it was something many other manufacturers couldn't do because they didn't have a London Warehouse/Showroom & the 'Chinamen' or middlemen selling their wares discouraged the marking of ceramics because they didn't want customers going direct to the manufacturers.
This is Josiah Spode II starting his ownership of the business as he intended to proceed c1797.