The Caramanian Pattern

This is quite an interesting pattern. It features some unusual structures which are apparently tombs, or sepulchers. We might tend to think this a somewhat morbid view nowadays, but in the time around 1808 when the pattern was first produced, the scene of life in an exotic land would have been quite desirable. The pattern itself was taken from the second volume of a book published in 1803 called Views in Egypt, Palestine, and the Ottoman Empire.

This is the dinner plate of the Caramanian pattern, taken from an engraving called ""Sarcophagi and Sepulchres at the Head of the Harbour at Cacamo". You can see the original picture (which is quite magnificent!) by clicking here.

This is the most widely common of the pieces, in fact, until today I had thought that this was the only piece of Caramanian I had seen, but in researching this pattern, I realized that I also had this.

This octagonal plate is taken from "Necropolis or Cemetery of Cacamo", which was published in the same book as the Sepulcher pattern.

Originally, the Caramanian pattern would have been offered as a full and expansive (not to mention expensive!) dinner set, with the different dishes featuring different scenes. Sydney Williams, in his book Antique Blue and White Spode includes illustrations of each of these scenes, along with a black-and-white illustration of the original engraving.

These are quite fascinating, but it is well-worth visiting Spode Exhibition Online to view the original paintings in all their glory of rich colors and detail. To see the original of the "Necropolis" scene, click here.

If you are at all familiar with the Indian Sporting Pattern, you'll notice that the border around the edge of the Caramanian pieces is the same or very similar. Williams theorizes that the border for the Caramanian was taken from the Indian Sporting Pattern, but since he says that the Caramanian pattern was produced before the other, I'm not sure his theory can be held to with any amount of certainty.

Dishes of the Caramanian pattern are somewhat rare in the United States, with the exception of the dinner plate shown above, which has been reproduced by Spode in recent years as part of their "Traditions" collection. The octagonal plate pictured is also a new Spode piece, but I have only seen just the one so far. I know there must be lots out there somewhere, but they do not seem to be as common.

Do you know of any other Caramanian pieces made recently by Spode? Comment below!