Spode Blue Italian china dinner set is one of the all time classic tableware designs. Josiah Spode, the grandfather of the china industry perfected the art of blue underglaze printing, the Blue Italian crockery range was born and has been in production since 1816. Inspired by the Orient, the blue Japanese style border frames the central scene of Roman ruins, from a mid 17th Century ink and wash drawing. The pattern plate engraving technique in manufacture requires huge precision and skill. Spode Blue Italian is one of the most recognisable dinner services. Popular as a breakfast set, Blue Italian also dresses up well for more formal eating too. It is practical, robust and dishwasher safe and should be used as everyday china. It also looks very good displayed on a dresser, so please do not feel you have to hide the china in cupboards. Since Spode china\'s sad demise in 2009, Portmeirion Pottery has owned the brand. This is great for Blue Italian collectors as Portmeirion know how to look after presitgious product. Portmeirion\'s policy is to produce in England china product that is viable to do so and to out source in quality overseas factories other items, always to the high standards and quality specification you would expect from Spode. We have seen little, if any, size or colour variance since Portmeirion took over production. Spode Blue Italian a timeless classic.