Coade stone

John Bacon (November 24, 1740 - August 4, 1799)
Father Thames c. 1769
Coade stone
Ham House, nr Richmond, London

Coade stone was a ceramic material that has been described as an artificial stone.

It was first created by Mrs Eleanor Coade (Elinor Coade, 1733-1821), and sold commercially from 1769 to 1833. The building boom in London, at this time, led to a high demand for ornate features to decorate and adorn brick-built Georgian houses.

Its surface is best described as having a matte finish.

One of the more striking features of Coade is its incredible weathering resistance, and examples of Coade stonework have survived very well; prominent examples listed above have survived without any apparent wear and tear even after 150 years.

Other examples include the pediment of the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich.