Copeland / Spode - Shop

The history of Copeland and Spode is a long one.  The first Josiah Spode set up the Spode factory in the 1700’s.  Bone china went into production in 1800 and shortly after, Spode’s son went into partnership with William Copeland.

In 1857 Copelands purchased the 18th century moulds made at the Chelsea and Derby factories and in the 1930s, the factory produced a range of figures, cast from and based on these Chelsea/Derby originals.

Spode produced the finest bone china body in the world. By maintaining the specialised rare skills of its employees, while at the same time investing in newer manufacturing processes, the factory kept the flexibility and capacity to make both larger quantities of mass-produced items and one-offs for special orders.

The company passed back and forward between subsequent generations of Copelands and Spodes until it finally fell out of the hands of the Copeland family in 1966.  From that date, it underwent a number of changes in ownership, during which the business was merged with Royal Worcester.