What are the opening hours?

Wednesday 10:30am - 4pm Thursday 10:30am - 4pm Friday 10:30am - 4pm Saturday 10:30am - 4pm Sunday 10:30am - 4pm

Spode Museum

The Spode Museum Trust is a registered charity established in 1987. Spode has been fortunate that so much remains intact.

The Spode Archive includes some 20,000 ceramic items spanning over 200 years from the late 18th Century to 2008. It also includes some 25,000 engraved copper plates from which transfer prints were made for printed ceramic wares. There are also collections of antique factory tools, furniture and moulds and ¼ million Spode and Copeland documents including watercolour paintings of some 70,000 ceramic

patterns. Because of time span and its near-completeness, the Archive enables unique insight into the history of a world famous factory from the Industrial Revolution to the present, its owners and employees during three centuries and its relevance to the local economy. The ceramics collection is of international standing, and ranges from spectacular items made for the very wealthy and the great 19th Century exhibitions to a definitive collection of Spode blue and white printed earthenwares and a wide variety of more ordinary wares made for domestic and export markets. Archives and valuable collections from factories of world prestige with over 200 years of history, are very rare. However, following the closure of Spode’s historic factory at Church Street, Stoke, where the collection had been located, much of the collection is presently in store and unavailable to public view. The Trustees are working with a number of parties to establish a new permanent home, hopefully in conserved historic buildings on the Spode Church Street site.

29/05/2026

New Workshop Dates - click the link for further details and to book!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cows-clay-cake-tickets-1989374069394?aff=oddtdtcreator
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ewe-nique-sheep-workshop-tickets-1990075359973?aff=oddtdtcreator

27/05/2026

Due to popular demand, Willow Pattern Ceramics and Stories of ‘Other’ has been extended 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝟑𝟎 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.

𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘩𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦, 𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐧

Amid the burgeoning popularity of tea consumption in the early eighteenth century, potters in North Staffordshire capitalised on growing demand for refined tableware by attempting to emulate porcelain and other ceramics imported from China. However, these influences were adapted to suit Western tastes, often idealising and reshaping original motifs, thereby perpetuating stereotypes and transforming cultural imagery into aesthetic novelty.

Prior to the emergence of the Willow Pattern, visual elements such as Chinese figures, landscapes, pagodas, bridges, fences, and the willow tree itself were already widely used. Their prevalence reflects Britain’s industrial-scale appropriation and reinterpretation of East Asian cultural imagery during the 18th and 19th centuries.

These objects highlight how cultural influence acted as a key catalyst for innovation, contributing to the development of materials such as bone ‘China’, which would go on to play a central role in shaping the identity of British ceramic manufacture.

Visit: Spode Museum, Elenora St, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 1QD. Open Wednesday - Sunday 10.00am – 4.00pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Free Entry.

The exhibition is kindly supported by , , , , , @1882 and

1. Teapot (metal replacement spout), white salt glazed stoneware, with over-glaze painted decoration and inscription ‘John Murhall Esq 1762’; Staffordshire, c. 1762
Loan courtesy of The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent

2. Tea saucer, soft-paste porcelain, with over-glaze painted decoration; attributed to Baddeley-Littler, Shelton, Staffordshire, 1772-1784
Loan courtesy of The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent

27/05/2026

Yesterday evening the Spode Museum hosted the book launch of the Willow Pattern publication, “Legacy and Continuity”. Representatives from Staffordshire University, contributing artists to the current Willow exhibition, Chinese guests, including Professor Teijun Hou, and Board Members from the Spode Museum Trust were in attendance.

The Spode Museum was honoured to accept ten exhibits by Chinese artists in the current Willow exhibition to join the Spode Museum Collection.

24/05/2026

We are looking forward to hosting this event for the Spode Society next month.

21/05/2026

This event will no doubt be popular - we advise early booking 😃

20/05/2026

Due to popular demand, Willow Pattern Ceramics and Stories of ‘Other’ has been extended until 𝟑𝟎 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.

𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘩𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦, 𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

Blue-and-white painted wares excavated at Lower Street in Newcastle-under-Lyme represent the earliest known Staffordshire examples of a decorative tradition that would become a defining feature of the regional pottery industry. These ceramics mark the emergence of blue-painted and printed designs which, although initially derived from or inspired by Chinese prototypes, rapidly evolved beyond direct imitation.

Such motifs gained considerable popularity among consumers and were subsequently integrated into the standard repertoire of pottery manufacturers. This process of adaptation and reinterpretation is exemplified by the printed Willow pattern, introduced circa 1790 to cater to the prevailing fashion for chinoiserie. Despite its origins in East Asian-inspired aesthetics, the Willow pattern has since come to be regarded as an archetypal expression of English ceramic design.

The wares in question demonstrate a high level of technical proficiency in underglaze decoration, a method that, in the latter half of the 18th century, North Staffordshire was both innovative and relatively undeveloped. As with the introduction of porcelain production techniques, the requisite skills for underglaze painting were likely transmitted to the region by craftsmen trained in other centres of ceramic manufacture.

𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭: Spode Museum, Elenora St, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 1QD. Open Wednesday - Sunday 10.00am – 4.00pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Free Entry.

The exhibition is kindly supported by , , , , , @1882 and

1. Mug, experimental porcelain, with under-glaze painted decoration; Lower Street, Newcastle-
under-Lyme, c. 1746
- Brampton Museum & Art Gallery, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council

2. Saucer, soft-paste porcelain, with under-glaze painted decoration; Longton Hall, Staffordshire, c. 1755-1764
- Loan courtesy of The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent

3. Plate, pearlware, with under-glaze painted decoration and impressed mark ‘ASTBURY’; Staffordshire, 1780-1800
- Loan courtesy of The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent

13/05/2026

Due to popular demand, Willow Pattern Ceramics and Stories of ‘Other’ has been extended until 𝟑𝟎 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.

𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘩𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦, 𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

‘𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚’ 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐞

Willow’s roots were in the blue painted decoration of Chinese porcelains, but Staffordshire manufacturers were slow to draw upon this source of designs for their wares. Instead, manufacturers and their modellers initially turned to published sources for designs which could be copied and adapted for use on moulded wares.

The advance of modelling as a trade within the industry coincided with the publication in 1754 of Edwards and Darly’s A New Book of Chinese Designs, and a more extensive range of distinctive moulded wares using designs from this source resulted.

- Dr David Barker

Visit: Spode Museum, Elenora St, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 1QD.
Open Wednesday - Sunday 10.00am – 4.00pm.
𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲.

The exhibition is kindly supported by , , , , , @1882 and

1. A new book of Chinese designs, calculated to improve the present taste : consisting of figures, buildings, & furniture, landskips, birds, beasts, flow.rs and ornaments, &c. /, [London] : Published according to Act of Parliament, & sold by the authors, the first house on the right in Northumberland-Court, in the Strand, & by the print & booksellers in town & country, MDCCLIV [1754], Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection.

2. Teapot, red stoneware, with mould-applied relief decoration and impressed seal mark to base;
Staffordshire, 1765-1770
Private Collection

3. Tea canisters, creamware, moulded with figures (left) from Edwards and Darly’s A New Book of Chinese
Designs; Staffordshire, c. 1765
Loan courtesy of The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent

06/05/2026

Due to popular demand, Willow Pattern Ceramics and Stories of ‘Other’ has been extended until 𝟑𝟎 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.

𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘩𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦, 𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

Josiah Spode I is widely recognised as the first potter to commercially produce underglaze blue printed earthenware. However, many historians attribute the original development of this technique to John Baddeley and his son Ralph Baddeley, whose technical expertise appears to have exceeded their commercial success. It is likely that Spode acquired aspects of their process during one of their financial difficulties.

From its earliest production, Spode’s printed wares demonstrated a notably high level of artistic refinement. This was due in part to the contribution of skilled engravers such as Thomas Lucas, who trained at the Caughley porcelain factory, and Thomas Minton, who later established his own influential pottery business. Their training at Caughley brought with it both technical knowledge of underglaze printing and familiarity with Chinese-inspired decorative styles.

Adapting these techniques from porcelain to earthenware required significant innovation. Spode refined the transfer-printing process, developing a more flexible printing medium and a glaze capable of transforming cobalt oxide into a clear, stable, and vibrant blue. By c.1784, at his works in Stoke-upon-Trent, Spode had successfully combined technical and artistic advances to produce underglaze blue printed earthenware on a commercial scale.

Over time, many patterns derived from Chinese export patterns, gave way to designs like ‘Willow’, ‘Broseley’ and ‘Forest Landscape’.
Several designs introduced by Spode and his successors have demonstrated remarkable longevity, remaining in production and popular appreciation into the present day.

Visit: Spode Museum, Elenora St, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 1QD.
Open Wednesday - Sunday 10.00am – 4.00pm.
𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲.

The exhibition is kindly supported by , , , , , @1882 and

1. Print from copper plate, Forest Landscape pattern, Spode, Stoke-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, c.1800.
Courtesy of the Holdway Collection

2. Platter, bone china in Broseley pattern, Spode, Stoke-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, c.1821.
Courtesy of the Holdway Collection

01/05/2026

Due to popular demand, Willow Pattern Ceramics and Stories of ‘Other’ has been extended until 𝟑𝟎 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.

𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘩𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦, 𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

'𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰’ 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲

‘Willow’ pattern’s creation was made possible by the introduction into Staffordshire in the early 1780s of transfer-printing, a process which allowed multiple identical copies of complex designs to be made from an engraved copper plate.

Manufacturers copied designs from Chinese porcelain, adapted them or created their own designs from different elements of the Chinese. They were often more exotic in appearance than the originals, although very different in character from the chinoiserie style of British porcelain manufacturers.

‘Willow’ is one such hybrid with elements of more than one Chinese design, although it has a formality and stiffness not present on Chinese wares. Despite this, ‘Willow’ found widespread favour and has become the most popular printed design ever.

-Dr David Barker

Visit: Spode Museum, Elenora St, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 1QD. Open Wednesday - Sunday 10.00am – 4.00pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Free Entry.

The exhibition is kindly supported by , , , , , @1882 and

1. Engraved copper plate, Willow Pattern (first) used to print small dish. Spode, Stoke-upon-Trent Staffordshire, 1790-1800
Spode Museum Collection

2. Desert dish, earthenware with Willow Pattern (first) with underglaze printed decoration. Spode, Stoke-upon-Trent Staffordshire, c. 1795
Spode Museum Collection

3. Meat dish, Two Figures, earthenware with underglaze printed decoration. Spode, Stoke-upon-Trent, Staffordshire c. 1790
Loan courtesy of the Holdway Collection

30/04/2026

Especially for Staffordshire Day new pens are now for sale in our museum shop!
Are you a bottom knocker or a chief fettler?

25/04/2026

Due to popular demand, Willow Pattern Ceramics and Stories of ‘Other’ has been extended until 𝟑𝟎 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.

‘𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰’ 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧’𝐬 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬:

‘Willow’ pattern was the culmination of decades of copying, adapting and inventing designs in a Chinese style by pottery manufacturers. It was created at a time when the Staffordshire industry was becoming a significant force in the global market for ceramics, expanding production and developing new processes and new wares.

The Staffordshire industry’s limited involvement in porcelain production ensured that the ‘chinoiserie’ style favoured by porcelain manufacturers elsewhere was not well-represented on the locally-made earthenwares and stonewares. Over-glaze painted decoration required skills not widely available in Staffordshire, and painting under the glaze was not feasible until the introduction of light-bodied earthenwares.

The introduction of ‘China Glaze’ or pearlware, around 1775, allowed manufacturers to produce imitations in earthenware of Chinese porcelain decorated under the glaze in blue with a range of landscape, floral and figure subjects in what was believed to be a Chinese style. With a slightly blue-tinted glaze, these wares might be an acceptable alternative to Chinese porcelains, but they were made for a different clientèle from that which could readily afford imported wares.

- Dr David Barker

Visit: Spode Museum, Elenora St, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 1QD. Open Wednesday - Sunday 10.00am – 4.00pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

The exhibition is kindly supported by , , , , , @1882 and

1. Biscuit earthenware sherds used by decorators to practice painting Chinese-style landscape patterns; excavated William Greatbatch site, Fenton, Staffordshire, c. 1775-1782
-The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent

2. Plate, pearlware, with under-glaze painted decoration and impressed mark ‘TURNER’; John Turner, Lane End, Staffordshire, 1780-1800
- The Holdway Collection

3. Coffee pot, pearlware, with under-glaze painted decoration; Staffordshire or Yorkshire,
1780-1800
- The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent

Address

Elenora Street
Stoke-on-Trent
ST41QQ

Opening Hours

Wednesday	10:30am - 4pm
Thursday	10:30am - 4pm
Friday	10:30am - 4pm
Saturday	10:30am - 4pm
Sunday	10:30am - 4pm

Telephone

+441782411421

Website

http://www.spodemuseumtrust.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Spode Museum posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Address
Telephone
Opening Hours
Alerts
Contact The Museum
Claim ownership or report listing

Want your museum to be the top-listed Museum in Stoke-on-Trent?

Spode Museum

29/05/2026

27/05/2026

27/05/2026

24/05/2026

21/05/2026

20/05/2026

13/05/2026

06/05/2026

01/05/2026

30/04/2026

25/04/2026

Address

Opening Hours

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category