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Wednesday 12 June 2013

BLUE AND WHITE SPODE

Good Morning to you,

Do you like the colour blue?

I do.

I love seeing a bright blue sky first thing in the morning, it makes me feel happy and it makes me smile.  

I love walking along a beach, the sight of a bright blue ocean warms my heart and makes me want to dip my toes in the water. 

Add a touch of white, to the bright blue sky, in the form of big white  fluffy clouds,

and,

to the bright blue ocean add white  rolling foam.

Close your eyes and imagine these scenes in your mind's eye and you begin to appreciate the beauty of the colour combination of  blue and white.


I have some lovely blue and white Spode pieces to show you today. These spice jars are from The Spode Blue Room Collection.  

There are six spice jars and the first one I want to show you is  Ionian. This design was first introduced in 1851.  All the spice jar engravings have been reproduced from hand engraved copper plates.



Turn the Ionian spice jar around and there is another quite detailed engraving on the reverse.


I think I have to say that this is my favourite and it is called Grasshopper which was first introduced in 1812.

Spode is a pottery company based in Stoke-on-Trent and was founded by Josiah Spode in 1770.



.....and here is the reverse. Do you see the grasshopper with his large eyes. He looks like he has found a tasty snack and is ready to leap from the flower.

Today Spode is owned by The Portmeirion Group. Portmeirion produce some beautiful items, but that is another story, for another time.


..... and here we have Venetian Scenes which was first introduced in 1908. There is so much detail in this piece because if you turn the spice jar around,


you are greeted with a different scene, and again such lovely detailed work.

I could just take my book, place my blanket underneath the arbour, in the cool of the shade, and relax. Doesn't that sound heavenly.


This is Persian Bird which was first introduced in 1860.


Take a look at the reverse and you will see the Persian bird just taking flight. I could not decide if the bird was a Heron or a Stork.

The work on these spice jars is just staggering as the jars are 4 inches tall with the lid on and 3 inches tall without the lid.


I would like you to meet May,  this design was first introduced in 1826.


I did say Grasshopper was my favourite, but this runs a close second.  There is a similarity between the two.  I think it is the beautiful flowers which are on each piece that I love..... because who does not enjoy seeing a big, brash, yellow sunflower.


Here we have Continental Views which was first introduced in 1844.


Interestingly this is the same design on both sides. If you take a closer look you will see the face of a very odd looking person.  I'm not sure who he is.  At first I thought he was the musician, who played the lute, which you can see lying on the ground, but when I took a closer look I decided it was a statue..... I have to say a very odd looking statue.


..... and I thought you would like to take a little closer look at the designs on the lids. For such tiny pieces there is so much  detail.


So now, I think you can appreciate why I love blue and white so very much.

Before I go, I am sorry I was not able to speak to  you on Sunday, but I was feeling under the weather.  Normally I would let you know, but I really could not type a word.  I am feeling much better now, so gradually everything is getting back to normal.

Take care and I will see you later in the week.

This week I will be joining these lovely ladies,









31 comments:

  1. Good morning Daphne!

    I am sorry to hear you were feeling rather under the weather of late. Not such a nice thing, especially in the spring. I love your blue and white spice jars. My favorite is the grasshopper as well. I would have never noticed him without you pointing him out! I do hope you have a lovely week and continue to improve feeling better.
    Enjoy the sunshine! Debbie

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  2. Hello Daphne,

    Glad to hear you are much better. Thanks for sharing your beautiful blue and white collection. They have so much detail in them. Enjoy.

    Happy days.
    Bev.

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  3. Dearest Daphne,
    Blue and White porcelain and ceramics are very beautiful. For ages they have been favorites!
    One thing I learned here: Today Spode is owned by The Portmeirion Group. I did not know that! Thanks for educating me on both lovely china brands.
    Hope you stay well and have a nice day.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  4. Daphne, I am usually a red girl, but these blues are just lovely. I have Spode Christmas Tree china and I use it for the holidays. I would love to invest in another set for spring and summer use. Something vintage would be nice. ..and probably very expensive! Oh well...now I'm on the hunt!

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  5. Hi Daphne,

    How wonderful to have such a beautiful collection of such pretty blue and white spice jars. I love the display on the white lace and the lids are so dainty. I am drawn to the swirly lines of the 'grasshopper' design, although all of them are interesting. Blue and white is classic and adds charm and elegance to any space.

    Thanks for sharing!

    Poppy

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  6. I'm glad you are feeling better. Your pieces are beautiful...the artwork is incredible!

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  7. Hello, Daphne

    Your Spode pieces are very attractive. Blue and white always looks so fresh and crisp as a colour combination. As for your comment about the ocean, I would be quite happy to live closer to one than I do now.

    -Karen

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  8. Daphne, I hope you are feeling better by now. The blue and white is lovely. Spode has some pretty piece. The spice jars are quite the eye catcher. Blue and white is calming and I am thoroughly relaxed by looking at your beautiful photos. Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers Hugs, Linda

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  9. Hi Daphne, I always love your posts, I learn so much. They're like little history lessons wrapped up in a blog post. :) But I apologize for getting distracted this time. I would have been rude and stopped and asked you what I've always wondered. Of course a quick Google search could answer my question, but it's more fun to show my ignorance and ask instead. How exactly do you pronounce Spode? Is it spayed (long a) or spode (long o) or spod-ee (long o, long e) or spayed-ee (long a, long e). I promise to come back and read your post again after I know the correct pronunciation. :) I won't be so distracted. Also, you didn't tell us how you came to have these lovely pieces. Have you been collecting them? Were they a gift? And one last thing, I did notice the creepy statue person on that last one. Very odd. I'm sure there's some significance there. In any case, thanks for sharing your pieces with us, and have a wonderful evening!

    Debbie

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  10. hello
    le bleu est ma couleur
    j'adore la faïence de " DELFT "
    ce bleu et blanc est plein de fraicheur
    en Angleterre au XvIIIé siecle , il y a eu une folie , une influence
    pour tout ce qui ce rapporter à la Chine
    des décors , de la vaisselle :::::
    merci pour tout ces renseignements
    tendresse
    edith (iris) France

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  11. hope you are feeling better. i'm reading all my blogs now on bloglovin and trying to get used to it. i adore blue and white ... it seems so peaceful and calm. the spice jars are wonderful. take care.

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  12. Hallo Daphne!!What a beautiful collection you have!!!
    I love blue and white ,and my daughter brings me Blue Delft pottery from Holland,when she visiting us!!Hope you have a lovely evening!!
    Dimi..

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  13. I love blue and white....and Spode is so wonderful!!! I have 4 of the spice jars, but the designs are different from yours, but I do have the grasshopper, and he is such a dear!!! I also have one jar in green.....different?? Here's to blue skies!!!

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  14. Those are some beautiful pottery pieces. My sister's favorite color is BLUE....always has been. I love it too, but my fav is Yellow. I look forward to following this lovely blog of yours.

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  15. Hi Daphne, Christine visiting from http://littlebrags.blogspot.com. Thanks for leaving me a sweet comment. How fun to follow someone from England now...I joined you through GFC

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  16. Your Spode spice jars are lovely. Do you use them for spices or decoration? I'd be afraid to use them for spices. I'd probably chip them. Thanks for the information about them. It was really interesting, plus I love blue and white.

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  17. I will look at blue and white dishes much differently after your wonderful lesson about them. I always just saw designs and didn't realize they were telling a story. Thanks so much.

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  18. I love spode blue & white china and any other blue & white dish

    I have a set of spode spices jars very similar to the ones you have shown

    I need to get them down and wash them up and show them off I guess LOL

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  19. Beautiful Spode blue and white...

    Jidith

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  20. hello
    bon j'ai trouvé
    je me suis inscrite à la newsletter + comme membres
    comme ça je ne vous perdrez plus
    à bientôt
    tendresse
    edith (iris)

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  21. I think I like MAY the best but all are lovely. I like blue and white dishes very much. Which is good as I have my grandmothers old set and then I'd bought a blue and white based set in my twenties for my china though it is more of an ironstone :)

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  22. Makes me think of my mom-- she loved blue!

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  23. Loved this post, Daphne. My entire house is blue and white, with touches of yellow. I would adore some of your pieces.
    Glad you're feeling better....

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  24. hi Daphne
    Lovley china and thanks for telling the story :)
    and do not miss.......

    SATURDAY SHOW OFF

    it is FUN :)
    WELCOME
    HÃ¥kan ( The Roseman)

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  25. Hi Daphne - thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving such a nice comment and welcoming invitation to your lovely blog. My sister in law and her husband live in Durham. They came to visit and I just swooned about Cath Kidston - so she was sweet enough to send me the keychain. I did have to get help from my husband - my fingernails are like paper! I have one piece of Spode, blue and white. A little creamer. But, I have lots of Delft and some Blue Willow. I thought I would bring it out for July. I love the name of your blog! I will have to take some time to look around at all your pages. So far, what I see, I LOVE! Have a wonderful weekend!

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  26. Beautiful china my friend! I collect any with ships or the sea! I have a blue kitchen and love nautical pieces! Sweet hugs!

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  27. Such lovely pieces, Daphne! Thank you for sharing them with us. I'm so glad to hear you're feeling better, my friend.

    Thanks so much for joining in this week.

    xo
    Claudia

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  28. Beautiful Spode pieces -- I love that there is such detail and that they are different on each side. That strange fellow does look like a statue -- there is what looks like a base behind the couple. (Maybe he is there to keep that couple from getting too close!)

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  29. I also love the color of blue besides my favorite ones like white and black. Before I haven’t noticed this color, but just lately I find it interesting and vibrant to my eyes. Even though emerald is recognized as the color of the year, I consider blue as another one in trend.
    from Annie @Online PhD Degrees

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  30. Sweet friend, you are one of the features today at the Anything Blue Friday party at The Dedicated House. Here's the link to this week's party. http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2013/06/anything-blue-friday-week-14.html Hope to see you at the bash! Happy Weekend. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  31. Those are beautiful! I love china, all kinds. I would have dozens of set if I could :) Thanks for linking up with me!

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Dear Friends,

It is so wonderful to know you enjoy reading Ivy, Phyllis and Me! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave me a comment. I really do appreciate it.

Best wishes to you.

Daphne

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