Rare Spode England Christmas Tree Pattern (1938-2008) Sugar Bowl Some Rim Chips

A SPODE ENGLAND SUGAR BOWL IN THE POPULAR CHRISTMAS TREE PATTERN WHICH IS PROPABLY ONE OF THE WORLDS MOST RECOGNISABLE PATTERNS. ALTHOUGH THIS PATTERN WAS IN PRODUCTION FROM 1938 TO 2008 THE BACKSTAMP INDICATES THIS SET WAS MADE BETWEEN 1970 AND 1976.
 
CHRISTMAS TREE PATTERN S3324 (1938-2008):
Christmas Tree by Spode is one of the world's most recognizable and popular holiday patterns. Decorated with distinctive green trim and THE classic decorated Christmas tree center.
The design has a lovely history. Sydney Thompson, sole agent for Spode in the US (Copeland & Thompson Inc, 206 Fifth Avenue, New York), spent a couple of months in Stoke-on-Trent each year at the Spode factory to develop new patterns for his market. This was during the 1930s and the Art Director of Spode was Thomas Hassall. He and Sydney Thompson would review the old Spode pattern books in their search for antique designs which could be revitalized and introduced on current shapes.
In May 1938, Mr. Thompson wanted a new design for the Christmas season and despite the many holly designs found in the pattern books none seemed appropriate. So Mr. Hassall asked Harold Holdway, one of the Spode designers (later to become Design Director) to produce a design. 
Holdway writes in his memoirs that 'I eventually settled on a Christmas tree as a central motif for my design. The tree... was profusely decorated with gifts, baubles and tinsel adorning the fronds.' The draft design was shown to Mr Thompson. Harold recalls that Thompson informed him that 'in America Christmas gifts, wrapped in gaily-coloured paper and tied with ribbon, were placed at the foot of the tree'. He continues 'I accepted this with good grace and amended my design to accommodate his suggestion. This alteration improved the balance of the design by giving a greater weight of pattern at the base of the tree.'
Spode's Christmas Tree pattern was born.
Christmas Tree was one of the most important designs for the Spode company, successful from the moment of its introduction in 1938. Sales of this pattern, particularly into the US market, saved the company during lean times on more than one occasion. Sadly it could not do this 70 years on when the Spode company was in difficulties and closed in 2009.

SIZE: 11CM WIDE 9.5CM HIGH UP TO LID FINIAAL
 
CONDITION: REGRETTABLY THIS SUGAR BOWL HAS 4 CHIPS TO RIM AND LID. LUCKILY THEY ALL SIT VISUALLY OUT OF SIGHT AND YOU WONT NOTICE THEM AT FIRST SIGHT.
 
MARKINGS: COPELAND SPODE BLACK MARK USED BETWEEN 1970 AND 1976.
SPODE MARKS ARE DIVIDED INTO FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES, INCLUDING EARLY SPODE FROM 1770 TO 1833, COPELAND & GARRETT FROM 1833 TO 1847, WT COPELAND FROM 1847 TO 1970 AND AND REVERTING BACK TO JUST SPODE FROM 1970 TO 2022.
THE STANDARD MARK WITH THE WORD "COPELAND" ABOVE A SQUARE BOX WITH WHAT LOOKS TO BE CHRISTMAS TREES AND THE WORD SPODE IN THE CENTER AND ENGLAND UNDERNEATH WAS USED FROM 1890 ONWARDS UNTIL 1969. 
FROM 1890 ONWARDS THE NAME OF SPODE WAS AGAIN INTRODUCED TO THE COPELAND MARKS AFTER A LONG ABSENCE SINCE 1833. FROM 1891, IT WAS ALSO REQUIRED TO ADD THE WORD ENGLAND TO PORCELAIN MARKS IN GENERAL BUT PRIMARILY MEANT  FOR THE EXPORT MARKED.
FROM 1970 TO CELEBRATE THE SUPPOSED BICENTENARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE COMPANY, THE NAME REVERTED BACK TO SPODE WITH A NEW LOGO DESIGNED BY JOHN SUTHERLAND HAWES. THIS IS THE NAME USED UNTIL THE CLOSURE OF THE FACTORY IN 2009. FROM 1976 THE SPODE LOGO CHANGED TO RED AND THE WORD FINE WAS ADDED TO BONE CHINA IN BLACK.
 
SPODE (1766 - 2008): 
Josiah Spode apprenticed as a potter in the mid-1700s. By 1754, he went to work for William Banks in Stoke-on-Trent, in Staffordshire, England. Later, he started his own pottery business, making cream-colored earthenware.
Spode pioneered the use of steam-powered, pottery-making machinery and mastered the art of transfer printing from copper plates,. Spode opened a London shop in 1778 and sent William Copeland there in about 1784. By the early 1830s, Copeland fully acquired the Spode operations in London and took over the Stoke plant operations until his death in 1868, when he passed the business onto his heirs.
Spode's factory was in continuous production from 1774 to 2008, when it finally closed (although the brand was subsequently purchased by Portmeirion, who continue to make Spode branded wares at their own factory in Stoke).
 
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