Author: Vega Wilkinson

Publisher/Date: Antique Collectors Club Ltd (2002) First Edition. NAP

Format/Condition: New cloth hardcover with gilt lettering in Fine condition. Dust jacket in Near Fine condition: tiny tear at top of front cover, barely noticeable and can not be see in photo; light rubbed. Profusely illustrated with 156 color and 134 black and white plates], 320 pages, index, glossary, bibliography, appendix. Measures approx. 11 x 8 ¾ inches.

Description: From the dust jacket:

This is the story of a most unusual pottery, in continuous existence for over 200 years on the same site in Stoke-on-Trent, England. Founded by Josiah Spode I in 1770 and continued by his son Josiah II, the Spode family pottery business and works then passed to the Copeland family, who continued its traditions of top quality for five generations before the business reverted to its original name of Spode in 1970.

The Spode-Copeland-Spode story has been compiled from hitherto unpublished material from the family archives at Trelissick Mansion, Cornwall, the home of Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Copeland, and new research of the artists and gilders employed at the factory. Original pen and ink drawings of the factory site were created espeially for this book and detailed plans of the Spode works show its development on the a nine acre site in the center of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. The book also traces the development of bone china and parian ware throughout the changing market conditions of this time and the adaptation of production from coal firing to the use of gas and electricity.

The book records the names and specialties of over 200 artists and gilders and the appendices have been compiled to help collectors to identify many of these, showing the vast range of ware which is collectable today. It also contains illustrations of the range of products available during this period, including commissions from royalty and nobility.