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The fascinating story behind bone English china

 

Although soft-paste English china was developed by Thomas Briand and presented to the Royal Society in 1742, Mr Josiah Spode invented fine bone china. His son, Josiah Spode II was crowned with the invention of fine bone china in 1799.

 

English bone china was admired for its lightness, translucency and its soft subtle almost pearly white quality and was much approved of by the tea-party hostess of the nineteenth and early twentieth century.

 

Paragon China was founded in 1775 Staffordshire by Master Potter John Aynsley. Aynsley China is undoubtedly one of the best examples of antique bone china makers you will ever find. Interestingly, there are connections between the Aynsley family, Paragon China and Royal Albert. Doulton (est 1815) absorbed Paragon in 1972 and continued with the brand until 1991, using some of the most popular patterns in their Royal Albert brand (est 1904). By 1992 the Paragon name had been discontinued.

 

In 1883, the Spode business became Copeland and Garrett. The power behind the continued success of Spode was William Taylor Copeland, who, in 1866 was appointed china manufacturer to the Prince of Wales, heir to the throne. He bought out the interests of the Spode family and became the whole owner of the name of Spode China.

 

Today Spode owns the equally famous Royal Worcester porcelain company and together they form a group which is one of the only UK rivals to the mighty Wedgwood (est 1759) group in terms of fine china production.

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