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Spode Copeland Duncan Rural Scenes Brown & White Tablescape

I love talking about this particular Spode pattern as not only am I drawn to the rural scenes each piece depicts but it has an interesting story behind it.  It is called Duncan Scenes, Duncan Scenes Brown, Rural Scenes (most common) or Priscilla Alden.  


In 1849 W. T. Copeland (Spode Copeland) commissioned Edward Duncan to paint a series of sepia watercolors, depicting English country life, which would extensively inspire a full range of tablewares.  The design was registered in 1850.


 In 1878 production grew limited.  Duncan scenes was printed in brown on a cream body earthenware.  The shape was called Amien Embossed which featured Gadroon rims.   A service was retained by the Copeland family as part of their private collection / dinner service and later passed to descendant Robert Copeland. 

I have some of these same pieces in my collection and shop.
  I've set a table for two using dinner plates, soup plates, dessert plates and small bowls.  Each piece features a different scene.


 The table is simple with just a few gathered objects on a tray as a centerpiece.  The basket weave pillar candle is from Zest Candles.  The bull planter filled with roses is from home...love it with these dishes and the pitcher is from the Rural Scenes pattern.  The flatware is San Remo...think it's Hampton or Cambridge.  I never can remember!

The cabinet below is filled with nothing but brown Spode.  There are four patterns here, including Duncan/ Rural Scenes in Brown.


 Below are some other pieces found in the cream bodied earthenware.

Shell shaped relish tray 
A Huge Serving Platter (Turkey sized)
Another large serving platter measuring just over 15"
And a smaller, 11" platter
Small bowl

How cool is the bamboo shaped handle on this creamer?

I've decided that this lid does not actually belong with the sugar bowl.  It doesn't fit quite right and I feel certain that the finial on the top would probably match the bamboo handles.  What do you think?
 Butter Pat

Cup and Saucer

My favorite piece is this teapot with gilt trim and a matching trivet.  It is the only one I have come across thus far in this pattern.



Fluted/scalloped serving piece

Each of these pieces has a similar, impressed stamp on the back/underside reading Copeland in an arched shape and a letter beneath.  

Edward Duncan (1803-1882) who painted all of the beautiful watercolors for this service is equally known for his maritime art than his landscape scenes of farms and animals.  He was an advocate of the British Watercolor Schools and a painstakingly skilled artist whose watercolors are some of the most technically detailed and defined.  In addition to watercolor, Duncan trained in oil and was also a professional engraver with his own studio in London and created works primarily for Fores of Piccadilly.  He was a prolific exhibitionist when it came to his own paintings, showing over 40 at the Royal Academy and Society of British Artists and another 500, including drawings, at shows of the Old and New Watercolor Society.  A collection of his works are on display at the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich.

Sheep Feeding on the Downs, 1850





I love seeing collections grouped and displayed together.  What great visual impact!



(photo courtesy Andrew Pye of Blue and White)





Rural Scenes can also be found in blue, black, black polychrome and red polychrome.  It is also found in the Royal Jasmine Marina series with a hops border.  I'll show some of these pieces in another post.  Until then...I will be joining the following:

Between Naps On The Porch
Shabby Chic Cottage
Second Time Around Tuesday
Thriftyville Thursday 
Vintage Thingy Thursday
My Cottage Charm 
Common Ground
White Wednesday at Faded Charm

French Country Cottage
Brambleberry Cottage 
Funky Junk Interiors
Romantic Home 

Comments

  1. Oh Nancy, what a collection - from your personal collection and your shop. The little grapes and roses bring it all together. Love those shelves chock full of a beautiful collection.

    Happy New Year! Hope to have you with us for Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

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  2. Nancy your brown spode collection is just beautiful~~ I love how you displayed it!! Your photographs are awesome!

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  3. Although brown doesn't appeal to me, I can see the beauty and intricate detail involved here. The border is perfect, it makes them look very delicate.
    I also love the cutlery you used in the tabel setting.

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  4. I've been thinking about collecting Spode Delamere, but this may have sent me in a new direction. So beautiful! Thank you for sharing your marvelous collection. Happy New Year! Cherry Kay

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  5. Beautiful dishes and beautiful display.

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  6. I love transferware -- you have a fabulous collection!

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  7. What an incredible collection you have. I've enjoyed viewing your beautiful table. From our home to yours Happy New Year! hugs ~lynne~

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  8. You are so knowledgeable about your china. You have the most extensive collection of transferware and it all so beautiful!

    Deborah in NC

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  9. Nancy, you have such a fantastic collection! I really like these.

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  10. Just beautiful. There is something so serene about brown transfer ware. Thank you for sharing

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  11. Thank you so much for posting this! I have two rectangular platters in this same pattern but in the red polychrome. I bought them about 15 years ago but never knew what the pattern was called as they were only marked "Spode" on the bottom.

    Finally, the mystery is solved. How fun to learn about the artist who painted the originals!

    Today is my birthday and the information that I learned on this post was a great birthday present!

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  12. I love the creams and brown. Certainly a favorite. The scenes are quite bucolic. I love coming here to learn.. Happy New Year to you and yours, may the new year bring lots of blessings!

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  13. Beautiful collection. I would love to see a closeup of the large platter in the middle bottom section on the left. The platter has a floral pattern that is similar to some of my favorite brown dishes.

    http://www.jeanneselep.blogspot.com/2010/11/thanksgiving-hutch.html

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  14. You do have the most beautiful dishes that I have ever seen = I love all your transferware.

    Happy New Year,

    Carolyn

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  15. These are quite beautiful~ I particularly love the pieces with cows...

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  16. Beautiful dishes. Lovely scenes on each piece.

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  17. They are gorgeous, Nancy. I love how they tell a story too and that you know so much about the background. Happy New Year!...Christine

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  18. Thank you for that setting, just beautiful and love the history.....the teapot is my fav!!! There is something about the brown and cream.....it is calm, reassuring, and so homey, solid like the earth.......hugs...cleo

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  19. Your collection is incredible! Thank you for the information - very interesting!

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  20. this set is lovely. i may have to invest in some myself. I love how it looks in the hutch. love your blog. Happy new year.
    careyann

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  21. Wow! Thats a great collection!
    Theresa
    aka:tot

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  22. Nancy, I always learn so much from your great posts and then too, I want to collect more transfer ware because of it, lol!
    Really love your display in the open hutch, great!
    Linda

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  23. What a beautiful collection! Each piece is so interesting and yet as a whole it is so restful to the eye, no bright colors, and it sets such a lovely table! I love your flatware as well.

    Have a Happy New Year!

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  24. I love all the ways you displayed the dishes. Just lovely. Happy New Year.

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  25. Nancy, I'm head over heels in love with this pattern. The sheep, oh my, it's all wonderful and I have to say your home decorated for Christmas is just beyond fabulous. I could spend hours there! Thanks for linking up to VIF. Happy New Year!
    hugs,
    Debra

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  26. you have amazing collection! love love love them all! Happy New Year

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  27. Absolutely beautiful transferware! I love the edging on those plates in your tablescape and the scenes are gorgeous! All of them together in your hutch are just beautiful- what a wonderful collection you have! Thank you for sharing at my party this week~ Happy New Year to you and yours!

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  28. Absolutely beautiful transferware! I love the edging on those plates in your tablescape and the scenes are gorgeous! All of them together in your hutch are just beautiful- what a wonderful collection you have! Thank you for sharing at my party this week~ Happy New Year to you and yours!

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  29. I love brown transferware! It is so hard to find around here! I just found your blog and I love it!
    Happy New Year!
    Blessings,
    Sonya

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  30. What a beautiful collection! I adore brown transferware. I only have a few pieces in my home so far, but I've got my eyes peeled for more.
    TFS!

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  31. I love the bucolic scenery of this set, Nancy. Of course, I've seen very little transferware that I didn't love! And that flatware...on, my!!!

    Thanks for linking to my party. I look forward to seeing what you link up each week.

    Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
    http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com

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  32. hey nancy...i was very happy to see your "bamboo" handled cream & sugar, as i have a teapot in the blue willow pattern. my teapot has the same "top" as your sugar bowl, but i wonder if your top isn't actually for the creamer. i am curious as to the date of your pieces, as my teapot also has the same arched base.i've looked everywhere for info, so needless to say, it is great that you have photos of your vast collection.thanks for sharing it with us. doug@egoiste.ca

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  33. I am reading backward today for inspiration :^)Hope you are all doing well up there.....kids okay?
    Do you have any info regarding the incline plate racks shown in your hutch display???
    Many thanks and blessings to you,
    J

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