Regency Gold: Spode Porcelain Vases in Pattern 967

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Description

Regency Gold: Spode Porcelain Vases in Pattern 967

Object: Pair of Small Urn/Spill Vases
Maker: Spode (Josiah Spode II), Stoke-on-Trent, … Read more Regency Gold: Spode Porcelain Vases in Pattern 967

Object: Pair of Small Urn/Spill Vases
Maker: Spode (Josiah Spode II), Stoke-on-Trent, England
Pattern: Pattern 967 (Japan Pattern / Imari Style)
Date: Circa 1805–1810 (Regency Period)
Medium: Bone China, Hand-Painted Enamels, and Gilding

Dimensions: 6 1/4 inches high x 4 1/2 inches diameter.

The Reign of the Japan Pattern

This exquisite pair of porcelain urns features Spode's Pattern 967, one of the most successful and enduring designs of the Regency period. Introduced around 1806, Pattern 967 is a complex, hand-painted adaptation of the Japanese Imari palette, characterized by a vibrant mix of cobalt blue, iron red, and lavish gilding, along with additional green and ochre enamels. The design depicts a stylized "Fenced Oriental Garden" scene with exotic flowers and foliage.

The form itself is designed for luxury display: the small, circular urns rise to a cylindrical body with a flared rim. A particularly rich detail is the pearled border—a band of white, three-dimensional enamel dots encircling the rim and foot—which enhances the texture and preciousness of the piece.

Historical Context: Bone China and Elite Taste

Dating to the early 19th century, these vases were manufactured from Spode’s superior bone china, a revolutionary material that was whiter, harder, and more translucent than earlier English porcelains. This excellence secured Spode's status as a premier supplier to the British elite, including the future King George IV (then Prince of Wales), whose tastes heavily defined the lavish Regency style.

The continued popularity of the Imari/Japan pattern in this period reflects the enduring Western fascination with exotic Asian aesthetics. Pieces like these were highly valued and displayed prominently as part of a formal garniture, symbolizing the owner's wealth and cosmopolitan taste.

References

Drakard, David & Holdway, Paul: Spode Transfer Printed Ware 1784-1833 (For context on Spode's pattern numbering and dating).

Godden, Geoffrey A.: Godden's Guide to Spode (For general history and examples of the Imari style).

National Trust Collections or Fitzwilliam Museum: (Holdings of Spode Pattern 967 items, including vases and tea wares).

(Ref: NY10958-prrx) See less