Spode Gold Dot Design Cup

This is a Spode coffee can and saucer in a Caughley pattern, circa 1800-20. This set nearly duplicates a Caughley pattern popular around 1790, but the shape of the handle is definitely Spode, and in fact it is marked “Spode.” The large gilt dots are arranged in a slightly different way than the dots on Caughley pieces, and in my opinion much more attractively, with the effect of radiating spirals spreading out from the center of the saucer. Dating the set poses some interesting questions. It came associated with a Caughley service which had several Spode-marked pieces in it. It’s not a regular Spode pattern, so Spode was hired to replace broken parts of the earlier Caughley set, which makes the possible date range wider, perhaps up to 1820. No chips or cracks. The gilding is worn toward the bottom all around. This piece belongs to a good friend of mine. Please email me for more information or other pictures.