Featured Copeland Flow Blue? porcelain tray - age? pattern?

I apologize for being so needy, but I swear this is my last post today. LOL

This tray has an impressed Copeland mark on the back with a crown. I found it in Kovels' & they say c.1900. I wanted to run it past the folks here to get a feel for what ya'll think. There is also an impressed F90 mark & an under glaze blue mark that I am not quite sure what it is.

It measures 15 3/4" by 13 3/4" edge to edge. It is 17 1/4" handle edge to handle edge.

The design looks like Flow Blue, but is a bit abstract.



Thanks for any & all advice or opinions!!!
Peggy

 

I haven't any help yet on a possible pattern. As to the mark, the following source dates the marks of Copeland with either a crown or the letter "B" under it as 1860 to 1964. Pictures of the marks are on page 37. Actual mention of impressed Copeland with either crown or B on page 39.
https://books.google.com/books?id=Y...#v=onepage&q=copeland impressed marks&f=false

--- Susan

 

I'm not 100% sure, but believe the F90 is a date code for February 1890.
Scroll down to the "Datemarks" section:
http://spodehistory.blogspot.com/2011/01/dating-your-spode-pieces.html

--- Susan

 

Thank you very much Susan!!
Peggy

 

You're welcome. Gee, this is weird pattern! Does anyone know what that contraption is with a silly smokestack/stem whatever curving out of the top. I guess that 4 frond is some sort of plant. Then there are a flock of birds flying overhead. I haven't a comment one to even begin to describe the border.

--- Susan

 

It really is weird. Sort of a cross between Delft-type designs and Asian. And given the shape I would have thought much more modern (by date.)

 

I like it a lot!

It is Imari, right? I did find this piece of Copeland on eBay with the same border element with lotus flowers - and the central plant (blobs ) forms are similar.

19 Century Copeland Late Spode...

Hope you figure it out... it's super cool, in my book.

 

Scout, your mention of Imari was the key to me spotting the following Imari plates by Spode/Copeland. Imari hadn't enter my mind because I expect Imari palette (selection of colors) to be polychrome with orange, dark blue, etc. On the following plates in the link, do note the contraption in the middle is very similar to the contraption on this plate with a similar stack or tall bamboo curling out the top. They are calling that contraption zig zag fencing. The border isn't that much different either. It even has that weird 4 frond plant of some kind in front. It has a thick flock of something flying overhead. Their description:

"A pair of Spode Imari plates, decorated with zig zag fence and foliage, 20cm diam, pattern no.967"

http://www.bamfords-auctions.co.uk/...08-2015/lot-33-A-pair-of-Spode-Imari-plates/#

Peggy's plate almost looks like the 1st stage of an Imari design. Like the designer/artist forgot to add the orange, etc... other colors and elements. Then again there is Blue and White Imari also. Here's another Copeland/Spode Imari dish with what looks like the an identical contraption. Also has the 4 frond whatever. The dish has the usual Imari colors of colbalt blue, orange/red, gold, etc. The border is different. The seller is dating it c1840-c1900.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/301842273599?rmvSB=true

--- Susan

 

I can see it now. Here goes Silverthwait into an antique shop. "Good Morning, I am trying to find some Copeland in the Contraption pattern."

LOL!

 

Here is a link to the first plate on replacements.comin my above reply. Here it is also referred to pattern #967. Zooming in on their pic it appears those are not a flock of birds flying overhead. They are attached to that tall shoot/bamboo/stack by thin vines.
http://www.replacements.com/webquote/SP_967.htm

--- Susan

For educational purposes only:

 

I would never have thought of that as a fence. Interesting find, Susan.

 

oooooh ... the perspective is so flat, but I see the zigzag in the diagonal line of the center segment. I was wondering if it was some kind of bird aviary or roost

I really want to learn more about Imari and Asian ceramics and antiques overall.

Just for laughs I made up names for some of the people I work with at estate sales. My boss is half Japanese - hers is "Imari Hepplewhite."

Mine is "Cabochon Petit Point" and our resident doll expert is "Madame Alexander" - I was joking when I suggested she get an MA tattoo at the base of her neck, but I think she might actually do it! lol

 

Sorry, started to duplicate link provided by Ladybranch

...nevermind

 

Wow!!! Susan you have been a busy little bee!!

I have never heard of Blue& White Imari, but will do some exploring.
I also would have never seen the "contraption" as a fence, but after seeing the other examples with the other colors included I can now.

I have put the ebay listing above on my watch list & I may wait to see how it turns out before listing my tray. I have very little invested in this piece & if it has to sit around for a little while it is nice to look at in the mean time.

I am off to see what I can find out about Blue & White Imari.

Peggy

 

I wouldn't think it was Flow Blue exactly

 

I'm a little late to the party, and it looks as if you have already found your answer. I thought I might add my two cents though.

I found a vase in my Spode and Copeland book that confirms that your tray is likely an unpainted, updated version of Spode's 967 pattern. The vase is dated circa 1909.

I suspect that the X on the back means that it was a factory second. That might explain why it was never painted. Makes for a neat collector's piece nevertheless!

 

Thank you for the information!! I tried to sell it once already with no luck. I will revise the description with the information you have given me & maybe it will trigger someone's search.
Peggy

 

If you look closely, I think you will see some paint remnants on it (2nd and 3rd pics). I think it may have been originally painted but has been stripped.

 

I have revived this thread because the guy who bought it wrote to the Spode Museum Trust to inquire about this piece. He received a reply & thought I might like to see the reply. I told him I was going to share the message with this group.

Thanks for your reply, Peggy. I have written to Replacements to see if they have anything in the Copland D7911 completed pattern which I think would also be fun to have. I will just cut and paste the letter and attach the picture here.


I was thinking the tray looked somewhat modern and was thinking 1920 – 1940. I was shocked to see it was an incomplete pattern from 1890! There has to be more of a story to this particular tray, but I’m afraid we will never know that story!


Very best wishes,


*******



Dear Mr. ******,




Thank you for your enquiry enclosing photographs of your Copeland tray and for payment of the research fee to our charity which is much appreciated.




Your tray, which is made of earthenware, is part of a cabaret set which would have included: teapot and cover, sugar box and cover, creamer, slop bowl and perhaps 2 tea cups and saucers.




On the base is an impressed mark COPELAND above a crown. This mark was used from about 1860 to 1969 and is the most frequently found impressed mark of the Copeland period. It was used on a white body earthenware


known as the Crown body. There is also an impressed date code, L above


90, which stands for July 1890. The remaining mark in blue is a workman’s mark for the printer who printed in blue for the main pattern on the tray which in this instance was never completed.



It is most likely that had this item been finished in the factory it would have been further printed and painted for pattern number D7911 which was first introduced in 1871 and was one of several variations of a much earlier design used by Spode in c.1810.



I attach an example of a plate decorated in this pattern to give you some indication of how the tray would look had it been fully decorated.


I hope the above information is helpful but if you have any queries please contact me.


Regards,



Janis L. Rodwell (Mrs)


Trustee


The Spode Museum Trust


Registered Charity Number 519597




Website: www.spodemuseumtrust.org

He also included a photo of the plate that Ladybranch posted on January 12th.

Peggy

 

Peggy, very interesting, thank you for posting the reply!

--- Susan