Period: Regency
Maker: Josiah Spode
One of Spode’s most popular designs was continuous gold leaves. Spode introduced ‘all over leaf’ in about 1803 with this pattern, number 531. The gilt leaves are hand-painted on a rich ground of cobalt blue, in between two borders with a diamond motif, which on the cup is repeated along the inner top rim.
In his book on Spode, Leonard Whiter writes that Spode went on to produce at least 20 ‘all over leaf’ versions. Other factories had their own, and we shall also be listing examples by Minton.
Condition Very good. The saucer is in excellent condition with only a tiny spot of gilt rubbing to the leaf pattern. The cup has minor rubbing to the handle, the bottom frieze of diamond motif and the gilt leaves. Odd speckles of cobalt blue on cup and saucer are from manufacture.
Cup Height: 5.5 cm; Width with handle: 9.6 cm
Saucer Diameter: 14 cm; Height: 3.1 cm
Weight: 243 g
Medium: Bone china (porcelain)
Origin: Stone-on-Trent, England
See Spode and Copeland in Makers & Artists for background on the factory
