China Plate

Blue and white ware generally refers to white pottery or porcelain with a cobalt oxide underglaze. The oldest and most valuable blue and white pottery is from China or Persia, from as far back as the ninth century. Geometric designs, dragons, cranes and floral patterns have always been popular blue and white motifs. In 1816 the Engish potter Josiah Spode developed a blue and white transferware dinner service called Italian Blue. The center of the plate is a peaceful scene, supposedly an Italian ruin. The edges are covered with a Chinoiserie Art Deco motif. I have a small but growing collection of Spode Blue Italian. Some have back stamps from the 1800's and some are much newer. I love and use them all. I try to follow William Morris’ admonition: “Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”