Blue lined 'Castleford-type' teapot, hinged cover: C.720 & A-2016

Titles

Blue lined 'Castleford-type' teapot, hinged cover

Maker(s)

Factory: John Glass (Possibly)

Entities

• Teapot
• Teapot and cover
• Castleford type teapot

Categories

• Stoneware
• Feldspathic stoneware
• Sprigged stoneware

Description

White feldspathic stoneware teapot and hinged cover, with moulded body and applied reliefs, edged with blue enamel.

Castleford-type teapot with ovoid body, a short oval galleried neck with scalloped rim, an S curved spout, and a domed, hinged lid with central finial. The loop handle has a flat top, connected to the shoulder of the pot by a vertical strip; a thumb piece across the top has both outward and inward spurs. On each side of the body is an arched panel, connected to a third panel around the base of the spout and another around the base of the handle. The arches are outlined in blue and there is a blue line above, below and around the base. The gallery is edged with a daisy chain, each flower rimmed by a blue circle. Blue lines also outline the sides of the handle and decorate the finial and hinge. The centre panels each contain sprigged classical cherubs, on one side two together and on the other one with a lion. The four points where the arches join are marked with a stylised leaf sprig and there is stylised foliage around the shoulder and cover. The spout has a triangular cross-section and five small projecting bobbles above the opening, which is edged in blue; otherwise the spout is undecorated. The interior is smear glazed, with a domed strainer at base of the spout. The underside is slightly recessed, giving a narrow foot-rim. Vent hole in the cover.

Notes

History note: Unknown before donor, Professor Shon Ffowcs-Williams

Legal notes

Given by Professor Shon Ffowcs-Williams

Place(s) associated

• Hanley ⪼ Staffordshire ⪼ England

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (2016-01-25) by Ffowcs-Williams, Shon

Dating

19th Century, Early#
George III
Production date: circa AD 1810

Note

The cherub sprigs and finial on this teapot are similar to those found on teapots made by Chetham and Woolley, of Longton. However, the overall shape, handle, gallery, finial, spout and the other sprig decoration suggest the maker was John Glass of Hanley.

The thumb piece on the handle has a projecting front spur to provide a stop for the cover, which is hinged to prevent it falling off when tea is poured.

‘Castleford-type’ teawares are named for The Castleford Pottery in Yorkshire, run by David Dunderdale & Co. from 1790 to 1821, which was renowned for its white felspathic stoneware. However, other factories also made similar products and there are many unmarked examples. Examples are typically plain white or white with edges lined in blue or another colour, or black basalt. The ornament is crisp, whilst the stoneware would be durable in an everyday setting. The teapots are moulded in two parts, with applied handle and sprig decoration, and may have a drop-in, sliding or (as here) a hinged cover. There are four other examples in the Fitzwilliam Collection, of which two have sliding lids and two are decorated with blue-lining.

School or Style

Neoclassical