1800s Spode Bat Printing Black Monochrome Bone China Tea Service - Set 40 PCS

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Early 1800s RARE 40 pieces of Spode bone china tea service. Motif has bat-printing transfer black images of animals in … Read more Early 1800s RARE 40 pieces of Spode bone china tea service. Motif has bat-printing transfer black images of animals in rural settings. Black monochrome transfer pastoral scenes depitction sheep and landscape. Hand-gilded gold trim is applied along the rim, handle and base. Pattern is marked 2/977 on all pieces.

Bat-printing on bone china
One of the most characteristic decorations on Spode bone china are the delicate, subtle grey prints applied over the glaze using the bat printing method. The small vignettes are produced from copper plates with stipple engraving. The small punched dots produce tones of light and shade depending on their density. The printer smears clear oil onto the copper plate, then presses a thin, flexible sheet of rubber-like animal glue called a "bat" onto the engraved design. The printer then presses the bat, covered with the oiled design, to the ceramic surface. The porcelain is then lightly dusted with powdered color which adheres only to the design of oily dots. After the printer carefully wipes away the excess color, the piece is fired slightly, which melts the glaze so that the print sinks into the glass coating.

32 pieces are in excellent condition; 8 others (1 cup, 6 saucers, 1 bowl) have hairline stress fracture. Handles are London style. This set was handed down through 4 generations of one family in New England. See less