CHARACTERISTICS OF CAUGHLEY AND COALPORT CHINA. _Caughley._—The early pieces, printed in under-glaze blue, resemble the early Worcester blue and white; but Caughley is whiter in appearance, and the blue has not the mellowness of old Worcester. Introduction of “Willow pattern,” and similar designs, and the “Broseley dragon.” _Coalport._—“Chantilly sprig,” “Tournay sprig,” “Worm sprig,” introduced by Billingsley from Pinxton. A maroon ground, introduced by Walker from Nantgarw about 1822. The deep mazarine blue of Derby, reproduced at Coalport, is quite equal to Derby pieces in tone. The rich ground colours of old Sèvres porcelain were copied with great success at Coalport, particularly the turquoise blue and the _rose-du-Barri_. SALE PRICES. CAUGHLEY. £ s. d. Tea and coffee service, fluted, flowers in blue and gold and dark blue and gold borders, 31 pieces. Christie, January 30, 1902 7 7 0 Vases, pair, 14 in., decorated with raised flowers and gilt, and choicely painted in birds and Watteau subjects. Gudgeon & Sons, Winchester, April 3, 1902 15 10 0 COALPORT. Bowl and cover, two-handled, encrusted with branches of coloured flowers and foliage, 11 in. high. Christie, April 4, 1902 16 5 6 Coalport vase, with gilt decoration on turquoise ground, 10-1/2 in. high. Christie, July 5, 1920 17 17 0 Pair of Coalport vases and covers, painted with panels of flowers in gilt scroll borders on dark blue ground, the covers surmounted by figures of children with garlands of flowers, 17 in. high. Christie, July 20, 1920 40 19 0 VIII SPODE AND HIS SUCCESSORS [Illustration: COPELAND VASES. Cobalt-blue ground, painted panels of Flowers and Landscapes. Raised border, richly gilded. _Reproduced by courtesy of W. T. Copeland & Sons, Stoke-on-Trent._] [Illustration: SPODE EARTHENWARE PLATES. (May-blossom on dark blue ground, and tropical bird and flowers on canary yellow ground.) _In the Collection of the Author._] VIII SPODE AND HIS SUCCESSORS The chain of potters is complete from the day on which Josiah Spode was apprenticed to Whieldon in 1749. The entry in the old account book runs: “1749, April 9th. Hired Siah Spode, to give him from this time to Martelmas next 2s. 3d., or 2s. 6d. if he deserves it, 2nd year 2s. 9d., 3rd year 3s. 3d.” The successors to Spode, Messrs. Copeland, have done much to develop the manufacture of English porcelain in the nineteenth century, and at the present day they are producing china of the highest excellence.