About the date of the International Exhibition of 1861, many purely English novelties were attempted. Mistletoe, holly, and simple popular designs were then in favour and were produced. Nobody could possibly mistake the homely robin or the holly-wreath decoration for that of any other country than ours. There is a suggestion of roast beef and plum-pudding and Christmas fare. All purely English art is homely, whether it be the Staffordshire potter’s farmyard quadrupeds that adorn the cottage mantelshelf, or the old blue dinner services of our great grandmothers. It is a debatable point if that is the highest art, but there it is. Ruskin would have had some hard things to say about it, and maybe William Morris preferred the potsherd of an Italian shepherd. The fact remains that it is _our_ art, and whatever we may in our innermost hearts wish it to be, we have to take it and study it as we find it. Before leaving the subject of these later and more modern chinas we may say, in passing, that the firm of Messrs. Copeland have done more than any other existing firm to maintain the traditions of a great factory. They have adhered to early designs, and all through the nineteenth century their record has been an exceedingly high one. It was Messrs. Copeland who first introduced, in 1845, their Parian ware, a very near approach to true porcelain. The writer has seen a Copeland and Garrett plate which in appearance was fully equal to Derby at its best period. CHARACTERISTICS OF SPODE CHINA. Spode ware is well potted, and feels to the touch like turned ivory. It can readily be distinguished from any of the glassy porcelains. It is light in weight. In design it follows Japanese more than Chinese models. The glaze is very even and smooth. SALE PRICES. SPODE. Vase and cover, octagonal-shape, decorated £ s. d. with flowers in Oriental taste in colours and gold, 24 in. high. Christie, January 14, 1902 5 15 6 Vases, five, purple, crimson, and gilt decoration. Foster, January 9, 1902 9 5 0 Basket and cover, dark blue and gold ground, and painted with bouquets of flowers. Sotheby, February 24, 1902 6 2 6 Dishes, two, oblong shaped, decorated in the Japanese taste, blue, red, and gold. Hepper & Sons, Leeds, February 5, 1902 3 15 0 Spill-vases, pair, gold ground, painted in flowers. Hepper & Sons, Leeds, February 5, 1902 2 0 0 Cake-plates, three, gilt and painted landscapes, “The Church and Castle of Scurlogstown, Co. of East Meath,” “The Remains of Wolvesey Castle,” and “The Bridge and Priory, Newtown, Co. of East Meath” (marked “Spode”). Edwards, Son & Bigwood, Birmingham, May 13, 1902 10 10 0