Spode Lizard Bottle Decorated With Pattern 1166

This Spode porcelain bottle is decorated with the hand painted and gilded pattern 1166, perhaps the most iconic bone china pattern produced by Spode in the Regency period. The pattern, first issued in 1806, was inspired by designs on oriental cloisonne with the addition of English flower sprays. The shape is known as "Lizard Bottle and Stopper" and is shown in the Spode shape book of 1820 as shape 75. The very helpful people at the Spode Museum Trust have said that the design features a moulded hieroglyph, which led to its name, but they are not certain of the reasoning behind it. Probably made as a scent bottle, they were made in two sizes, with this one standing 96 mm (3.75 inches) tall and having a diameter of 78 mm (3 inches). There is some slight wear to the gilding on the rim and unfortunately the stopper is now missing. It would date from the period 1810-20.