Pottery & Porcelain Marks – Words & Initials – S: Spode began around 1762. The company's founder, Josiah Spode, perfected the formula for bone china. Spode merged with Royal Worcester in 1976 and became Royal Worcester Spode Ltd. After other mergers, another group purchased the companies in 2009. The mark "Spode" is still in use. Note that other "S" marks are here.