Potter and porcelain manufacturer. Born in 1755 in Stoke, Staffordshire, England, Josiah Spode ll was the eldest son of Josiah Spode l. He trained as a potter in the family business. In 1779 he married Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of Thomas Barker, of the Row House, Fenton Culvert, receiving a dowry of £500. Both sets of parents judged this to be a good moment to establish a regular London business, good for both them and the newly married pair. He started as a dealer in earthenware and later of glass and porcelain, and the skill he showed soon gained him wider connections. The excellent blue printed pottery (recently introduced) supplied by his father, Josiah Spode l, also created a greater increase of business. While his father ran and developed the pottery works in Stoke he ran the firm's warehouse in London.
He decided to return to Staffordshire after his father's death in 1797 and took over the pottery factory, and led the development of bone china, which became the standard English porcelain body from about 1800 onwards. William, his son, along with William Copeland, ran his retail warehouse in London. On returning to Staffordshire, he may have briefly lived at Fenton Hall, once owned by his father's former employer but he soon began building his own large, elegant house called The Mount. He built it on top of the hill overlooking the town of Stoke-upon-Trent and the Spode factory. It was finished in 1804, and he moved in with those of his children who lived in Staffordshire. At about the same time, he built terraces and a courtyard of houses for workers.
From about 1800 Josiah started making porcelain better than any previously made in England, and an imitation of Sevre which was as good as the original. In 1805 Josiah II invented an earthenware in which Felspar was added as an ingredient - now universally known as "Stone China." The firm received the Royal Warrant of Potter and English Porcelain Manufacturer to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales plus in 1820 the firm received the Royal Warrant of Potter to H.M. King George IV, and were chosen to supply some pottery for the 1821 coronation banquet. Receiving the Royal warrant ensured that he became one of the few household manufacturing names in the early 19th century. In addition to the home market, Spode china was widely exported. Spode products travelled to America, Canada, India and even China.
Josiah's wife, Elizabeth, died of a fever in 1782 while living in London. He never remarried.
He decided to return to Staffordshire after his father's death in 1797 and took over the pottery factory, and led the development of bone china, which became the standard English porcelain body from about 1800 onwards. William, his son, along with William Copeland, ran his retail warehouse in London. On returning to Staffordshire, he may have briefly lived at Fenton Hall, once owned by his father's former employer but he soon began building his own large, elegant house called The Mount. He built it on top of the hill overlooking the town of Stoke-upon-Trent and the Spode factory. It was finished in 1804, and he moved in with those of his children who lived in Staffordshire. At about the same time, he built terraces and a courtyard of houses for workers.
From about 1800 Josiah started making porcelain better than any previously made in England, and an imitation of Sevre which was as good as the original. In 1805 Josiah II invented an earthenware in which Felspar was added as an ingredient - now universally known as "Stone China." The firm received the Royal Warrant of Potter and English Porcelain Manufacturer to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales plus in 1820 the firm received the Royal Warrant of Potter to H.M. King George IV, and were chosen to supply some pottery for the 1821 coronation banquet. Receiving the Royal warrant ensured that he became one of the few household manufacturing names in the early 19th century. In addition to the home market, Spode china was widely exported. Spode products travelled to America, Canada, India and even China.
Josiah's wife, Elizabeth, died of a fever in 1782 while living in London. He never remarried.
Potter and porcelain manufacturer. Born in 1755 in Stoke, Staffordshire, England, Josiah Spode ll was the eldest son of Josiah Spode l. He trained as a potter in the family business. In 1779 he married Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of Thomas Barker, of the Row House, Fenton Culvert, receiving a dowry of £500. Both sets of parents judged this to be a good moment to establish a regular London business, good for both them and the newly married pair. He started as a dealer in earthenware and later of glass and porcelain, and the skill he showed soon gained him wider connections. The excellent blue printed pottery (recently introduced) supplied by his father, Josiah Spode l, also created a greater increase of business. While his father ran and developed the pottery works in Stoke he ran the firm's warehouse in London.
He decided to return to Staffordshire after his father's death in 1797 and took over the pottery factory, and led the development of bone china, which became the standard English porcelain body from about 1800 onwards. William, his son, along with William Copeland, ran his retail warehouse in London. On returning to Staffordshire, he may have briefly lived at Fenton Hall, once owned by his father's former employer but he soon began building his own large, elegant house called The Mount. He built it on top of the hill overlooking the town of Stoke-upon-Trent and the Spode factory. It was finished in 1804, and he moved in with those of his children who lived in Staffordshire. At about the same time, he built terraces and a courtyard of houses for workers.
From about 1800 Josiah started making porcelain better than any previously made in England, and an imitation of Sevre which was as good as the original. In 1805 Josiah II invented an earthenware in which Felspar was added as an ingredient - now universally known as "Stone China." The firm received the Royal Warrant of Potter and English Porcelain Manufacturer to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales plus in 1820 the firm received the Royal Warrant of Potter to H.M. King George IV, and were chosen to supply some pottery for the 1821 coronation banquet. Receiving the Royal warrant ensured that he became one of the few household manufacturing names in the early 19th century. In addition to the home market, Spode china was widely exported. Spode products travelled to America, Canada, India and even China.
Josiah's wife, Elizabeth, died of a fever in 1782 while living in London. He never remarried.
He decided to return to Staffordshire after his father's death in 1797 and took over the pottery factory, and led the development of bone china, which became the standard English porcelain body from about 1800 onwards. William, his son, along with William Copeland, ran his retail warehouse in London. On returning to Staffordshire, he may have briefly lived at Fenton Hall, once owned by his father's former employer but he soon began building his own large, elegant house called The Mount. He built it on top of the hill overlooking the town of Stoke-upon-Trent and the Spode factory. It was finished in 1804, and he moved in with those of his children who lived in Staffordshire. At about the same time, he built terraces and a courtyard of houses for workers.
From about 1800 Josiah started making porcelain better than any previously made in England, and an imitation of Sevre which was as good as the original. In 1805 Josiah II invented an earthenware in which Felspar was added as an ingredient - now universally known as "Stone China." The firm received the Royal Warrant of Potter and English Porcelain Manufacturer to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales plus in 1820 the firm received the Royal Warrant of Potter to H.M. King George IV, and were chosen to supply some pottery for the 1821 coronation banquet. Receiving the Royal warrant ensured that he became one of the few household manufacturing names in the early 19th century. In addition to the home market, Spode china was widely exported. Spode products travelled to America, Canada, India and even China.
Josiah's wife, Elizabeth, died of a fever in 1782 while living in London. He never remarried.
Bio by: LindaB
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