These two stone china salad size plates are decorated in Spode's classic "Cabbage" pattern -- sometimes referred to as "Tobacco."  Here Spode looked to the highly esteemed wares from China as inspiration for this pattern.  Taking advantage of similarities of their slightly gray-blue tinted body to Chinese goods,  Spode's "Cabbage" decoration emulates the mysterious floral designs found on oriental wares both in terms of subject and asymmetrical arrangement.  

The pattern consists of a prominent, heavily textured leaf -- nicknamed "Cabbage" among the Staffordshire workmen, -- printed in light blue with enamel highlights of deep red and gilt.  A cluster of smaller blossoms, highlighted in varying shades of pink and rust with green surrounds this leaf.  The plate is bordered with a tight band of blue and rust from which hang two or three sprigs of gnarled vine studded with additional blossoms. 

Close comparison of the two plates will reveal that while they share the "Cabbage" pattern, they are not identical.  The Copeland and Garrett version has an additional spray extending from the rim. In addition, both the transfer and enamel highlights on the non- Copeland and Garrett piece reveal a much more delicate execution. 

In his 1970 work, Spode, A History Of The Family, Factory And Wares From 1733 To 1833 (p.191,194), Leonard Whiter includes a discussion of Spode's Stone China. He notes that the body was introduced between 1813 and 1814.   A survey of pattern numbers supports this assertion.  Whiter found twenty one stone china pattern numbers from 2053 to 2550, dating from 1813 to 1816. The "Cabbage" pattern, bearing number 2061, had to be among Spode's earliest stone china patterns.  

While among Spode's earliest stone china offerings, "Cabbage," along wih the third version of "Peacock" (No. 2118),  was among the longest running patterns Spode offered.  "Peacock" remained in production until 1963; "Cabbage" was still in production as late as 1970.  White further reports that, unlike many patterns, "Cabbage" was made without design alterations at least through the transfer of ownership to Copeland and Garrett in 1833. ( by contrast, seventeen variations of "Peacock" were introduced in the same period.)

In our array of images, the Copeland and Garrett plate precedes the earlier Spode. Additional "Cabbage" pattern pieces  available on the the Seekers website are shown in the final photo.