Spode, Josiah (1754-1827), was one of the United Kingdom’s greatest potters and the inventor of bone china. He created bone china by adding bone ash to the paste used for making porcelain. The result was china of particular beauty, delicacy, and transparency. Spode helped to make the familiar Willow Pattern popular.
Spode was born at Stoke-on-Trent, in Staffordshire, England. He learned his trade from his father, Josiah Spode, who opened the first Spode factory in 1770. Spode began making bone china about 1800. He died on July 16, 1827.
See also Porcelain; Spode china.
