Spode 19th Century Plates
- Manufacturers of Themed Tableware
- Arthur Court Aluminum
- Brown-Westhead, Moore, and Co
- Copeland Rd Plates and Cake Pedestal
- F & S Ivy Pattern Cups, Bowls, and Saucers
- F & S Plates & Bowls without Ivy Pattern
- Gien Blue and Brown Series
- Keller and Guerin Colored Plates and Bowls
- Sarreguemines Black
- Sarreguemines Brown
- Sarreguemines DV
- Service de Poupee
- Spode
- Circular Cartoon Cake Plate, Serving Plates, and Kitchen Canisters
- Royal Winton
- Specific kinds of Tableware
1850? 6 Spode plates illustrating "The Fox and the Lion." 9.75" diameter. "Aesop's Fables." Copeland and Garrett: "Late Spode." £130 from loch-leven through Ebay, May, '24.
The artist strives here to present two phases of this fable's history. In the foreground, the fox is afraid of the lion at their first encounter. In the distance, we see how he has become familiar and faces the lion at close range. Does "Late Spode" indicate a different era than the other works, which presumably stem from the 1830's?
1835 Staffordshire Plate "The Lion, the Bear, & the Fox." 8¼" diameter. "Aesop's Fables." Copeland and Garrett. $50 from Alphabetiques, Montague, MA, through Ebay, Sept., '19.
Here is a lovely presentation in green of the fable in which the lion and bear wear each other out in struggling over the carcass of a deer. Exhausted, the two need to lie and watch as a fox carries away the prey that they have fought over. The verso has clear markings of "Spode" and the quoted titles above.
1835 Transferware Plate "The Fox and the Grapes." 6¼" diameter. "Aesop's Fables." Copeland and Garrett. $50 from Alphabetiques, Montague, MA, through Ebay, Sept., '19
The artistry of the green illustration occupying the center of this small plate expresses the fable well. The fox is walking away but he is still looking back at the grapes. He has given up on them and, though he is bad-mouthing them, he would still want to have them. The verso includes "Copeland and Garrett Late Spode."
1830? Spode plate "Dog and Sheep." 9" in diameter. £45 from enochwood through Ebay, July, '26.
Excellent condition. Notice that this plate correctly identifies its scene, by contrast with our tab-handled bowl that calls it "Peacock and Crane." I am not sure whether the artist succeeded in conveying the unfairness of this trial.
1830? Spode plate "The Fox and the Tiger." 7.1" in diameter. £40 from enochwood through Ebay, July, '26.
The fable is less well known these days. The artist here pictures the tiger with the offending arrow in his mouth. He has apparently pulled it out of his body. Is it correct to see this tiger as inquisitive, curious, and surprised? And this fox as understanding that humans can attack from afar?
A skillful archer, coming into the woods, directed his arrows so successfully that he slew many wild beasts, and pursued several others. This put the whole savage kind into a fearful consternation, and made them fly to the most retired thickets for refuge. At last, the Tiger resumed courage, and, bidding them not be afraid, said that he alone would engage the enemy; telling them they might depend upon his valor and strength to revenge their wrongs. In the midst of these threats, while he was lashing himself with his tail, and tearing up the ground for anger, an arrow pierced his ribs, and hung by its barbed point in his side. He set up an hideous and loud roar, occasioned by the anguish which he felt, and endeavored to draw out the painful dart with his teeth; when the Fox, approaching him, inquired with an air of surprise who it was that could have strength and courage enough to wound so mighty and valorous a beast! “Ah!” says the Tiger, “I was mistaken in my reckoning: it was that invincible man yonder.”