Spode “Willis” Pattern #2147 Plate

Spode plate with printed design and inpainting, circa 1820.
 
Dimensions: Approximately 8” in diameter.
 
Decoration: 
The rim is decorated with three colorful floral sprays.
 
The central design is surrounded by a gilt spearhead border.
 
That design is composed of flowering trees, sacred fungus, and butterfly in flight.
 
The reverse bears a printed Spode mark “Stone China” and the painted pattern number “2147”. In his book “Spode & Copeland Marks”, Robert Copeland suggests that this printed mark was the earliest mark used on Spode’s Stone China.
 
The Willis pattern is illustrated in Smith, “Spode & Copeland. Over 200 Years of Fine China and Porcelain” at pages 43 and 55.
 
Condition: Minor surface wear; otherwise in excellent condition consistent with age and usage.