Teapot

Object Type
This teapot is relatively small, reflecting the high cost of tea in mid-18th-century Britain. However, despite the small capacity of the teapot, the service includes six teacups (in addition to six cups of a different design for coffee). The teapot has a matching circular stand, used to prevent spillages, and ensure that the heat of the pot didn't mark the tea table. Afternoon and after-dinner tea were generally prepared by the lady of the house in the drawing room in comfortably-off households.

Design & Designing
The service is similar to one offered at auction in London in 1770. This was described as 'a very curious and matchless tea and coffee equipage, crimson and gold, most inimitably enamell'd in figures, from the designs of Watteau'. Although the figure subjects here are not directly copied from the work of the French Rococo painter Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684-1721), they are certainly inspired by his work.

Materials & Making
The Chelsea porcelain factory introduced the crimson ground around 1760, when a London auction of Chelsea porcelain included 'a few pieces of some new Colours which have been found this year by Mr [Nicholas] Sprimont, the Proprietor, at a very large Expence, incredible Labour, and close Application'.