Spode Ceramics

Spode in Stoke-on-Trent is a pottery and fine bone china company that first established by Josiah Spode in 1790. The company has produced many designs over the years from the blue Italian range and woodland designs to developing a successful formula for fine bone china. Along with the history and designs of Spode it has produced many a skilled craftsman and has trained some of the most renowned pottery designers. Their wide span of technique and historical designs still influence current designers and are often used for research purposes.

The factory production side of the company shut down 3 years ago after it went into administration. It was rescued by the Portmeirion group and the buildings are now used as a gallery space, where the history of Spode along with new contemporary designs and designers can be exhibited. There is still a master engraver on hand to demonstrate this dying craft and skilled tradition. This gives you an insightful look at the time and accuracies of these designs that were produced by skilled crafters for the more traditional prints of Spode.

Designers and artists that are exhibiting at present are Emma Bridgewater, Elizabeth Addyman, Edward Baldwin, Ryan Connolly, Yuki Ouchi and Trish Spence to name but a few. This fresh influx of new contemporary and collaborative design work has helped form a renewed and exciting interest into ceramics as a visual art. Ceramics have always been a dual -purpose design where aesthetics and function meet. With Spode’s new inspirational setting and workshops; shape, form and surface design hold no boundaries. For Spode Galleries, a new life has been ignited and hopefully with the support of the resident and visiting artist’s and general public visits, it will have a safer future.