The "Italian" pattern is one of Spode's longest-running designs, first introduced in the early 19th century and still in production today, which makes any single piece bearing the pattern part of a production run that's spanned close to two centuries. This bowl carries the pattern in its standard blue and white transferware treatment, a landscape scene bordered by dense floral and scroll decoration that's become one of the most recognisable blue and white patterns in English ceramics.
Made under the Copeland Spode mark in the 1930's, this is a large serving bowl rather than an individual place setting piece, suited to salads or any dish that benefits from a substantial serving vessel at the table. The pattern's consistency across decades means a piece like this can usually be mixed with other Italian pattern pieces from different production periods without an obvious mismatch.
