Copeland Spode | Chinese Rose | Two Trios | Rd No 629,599 | Circa 1913–1940s

A pattern that has outlasted empires — and still holds its own on any table.

Spode's Chinese Rose is one of the most enduring transfer-printed patterns in English ceramic history. Registered in 1913 under number 629,599, the design draws on the long European tradition of chinoiserie — Oriental garden scenes, flowering rockwork, and scattered blossoms rendered through a disciplined dark transfer outline, then brought to life with hand-applied colour washes in orange, pink, blue, and green. The pattern remained in continuous production across successive decades, and pieces bearing the Copeland Spode mark with "England" (without the later "Made in England" addition) date to the earlier decades of production, broadly circa 1913 into the 1930s and 1940s. Copeland had traded under the Spode name since 1833, and the firm's reputation for quality transfer printing was well established by the time Chinese Rose entered the range. The pattern is sometimes referenced in trade catalogues as "Rock Garden," a name that reflects the prominent decorative rockwork at the centre of each piece.

Each trio comprises a teacup, saucer, and side plate. The cup is of generous rounded form with a gently scalloped rim, finished with a solid bright green edge line. The exterior carries the principal Chinese Rose transfer — orange and pink peonies with blue clematis-type flowers rising from brown rockwork set on green grass, surrounded by scattered smaller florals on finely stippled brown scrolling branches. A broad decorative band of dark brown honeycomb diaper work with pendant lace-like detailing runs below the rim on the exterior and lines the cup interior at the rim. The saucer and side plate repeat the border treatment; the side plate carries a full central vignette of the rockwork and flowering branches. All pieces show clean hand-applied colour with good register. No gilding. The backstamp reads: COPELAND / [cartouche device] / SPODE / ENGLAND / Rd No 629,599 / "CHINESE ROSE".

The trios are in excellent condition. No chips, cracks, or crazing to any display surface. Minor crazing is present to the backstamp area on the base of one cup only — typical of earthenware of this age and period, and not visible in normal display or use.

Key Details

• Maker: Copeland Spode, England
• Pattern: Chinese Rose
• Registration number: Rd No 629,599 (registered 1913)
• Also known as: Rock Garden
• Shape: Scalloped rim, rounded cup form
• Pieces: Two complete trios (teacup, saucer, side plate × 2)
• Material: Earthenware
• Period: Circa 1913–1940s
• Decoration: Dark brown transfer print with hand-applied polychrome colouring — orange, pink, blue, green
• Chinoiserie motifs: Flowering peony and clematis on rockwork, honeycomb diaper border, pendant lace detail
• Edge: Solid bright green line to rim of all pieces
• Gilding: None
• Backstamp: Copeland Spode / England / Rd No 629,599 / "Chinese Rose"
• Condition: Excellent — no chips, cracks, or crazing to any display surface. Minor crazing to backstamp area of one cup base only
• Buyer profile: Collector of Spode or chinoiserie transferware; buyer seeking usable antique trios with provenance and pattern history

Pattern registered 1913. Still wearing it well.