Earthenware, porcelain and parian ware at the Spode Works, Stoke, Stoke-on-Trent, England.

Under Copeland & Garrett, the factory and production grew considerably - both in output and in physical size. It was among the largest pottery operations of its time. They produced a wide range of ware catering both to luxury and everyday mass-market needs catering to the come and export market.

Their work helped solidify Stoke-on-Trent’s reputation as a centre of high quality ceramic manufacture. The transition from the Spode legacy, via Copeland & Garrett, was crucial in sustaining innovation in style, technique, and production in the 19th century.

The involvement of William Copeland prior to 1833:

• William Copeland III (b.1765 d.1826). In 1784, age 19, Copeland goes to work for Spode at the retail business in London. By at least 1789 Copeland was a travelling representative for Spode and is also dealing in tea on his own account. 
  In 1784 the Commutation Act reduced the tax on tea from 119% to 12.5%, this encouraged more tea drinking. Lower prices made tea more accessible to a broader segment of the population.

• Around 1800 Copeland became a partner in the the pottery manufacturing business.

• In 1805 the partnership in the London business was passed over to an equal partnership between William Spode (eldest son of Josiah II) and William Copeland. Each held two shares. 

• In 1811 William Spode retired and in 1812 a new partnership was formed between Josiah II (one share) and Copeland (three shares). 

• In 1824 William Taylor Copeland (b.1797 d.1868), the only son of William Copeland III, was taken into partnership at the London business receiving one share from his father.

• January 1826 William Copeland dies. 
  Josiah II and W. T. Copeland enter into partnership for seven years, with two shares each. 

• Josiah Spode II died in 1827 and his son, Josiah III, in 1829. Josiah IV was only six when his father died and the business was run by trustees of Josiah III. 

William Taylor Copeland buys the Spode business: 

• William Taylor Copeland was a man of means and position. When his father, William Copeland, died in 1826 he left more than £86,000. 
  In 1828-29 he served as Sheriff of London and Middlesex and was elected as Alderman for the Ward of Bishopsgate.  

• Although Josiah Spode II died in 1827 the partnership agreement that he had made in 1826 with William Taylor Copeland continued until 1833. 

• March 1st 1833 W. T. Copeland purchases the Spode shares in the Stoke and London businesses.  

Copeland & Garrett 

• Copeland took Thomas Garrett into partnership to oversee the pottery manufacturing business in Stoke while he remained in London. 

• In 1835 Copeland becomes Lord mayor of London, aged 35. 

• In 1837 Copeland was elected Conservative M. P. for Stoke-upon-Trent, he retains the seat until 1852. 

• Thomas Garrett retired in 1847 and Copeland continued the business on his own account as W. T. Copeland (& Sons)

Parian figure of Narcissus by Copeland and Garrett and dated 1846.  The figure, after a sculpture by John Gibson, shows Narcissus seated on a rock and gazing at his reflection in a pool. 

This was one of a small number of items selected to be produced for the Art Union of London in 1846 (50 copies were originally made in 1846 to be distributed as prizes) to great critical and public acclaim.

This figure continued to be produced through the second half of the Nineteenth Century by the subsequent firm of Copeland with a Copeland mark.

impressed and printed mark

ROYAL OPAL is the name of 
the body of the ware

this style of mark, without the garland surrounding the name, was used on small items - such as cups 

Copeland
& Garrett
Felspar
Porcelain
Late Spode