Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 120, The Wolfson Galleries

Teapot

ca. 1805 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
Ceramic teapots of the early 19th century tended to follow the design of Sheffield plate or silver. They even imitated the rivets where the wooden handle would have joined the body. This example, with its sweeping prow and boat-like body, is entirely typical of its era. It was made shortly after Nelson's victory at Trafalgar and may reflect the great interest in all things nautical at that time.

People
The Baddeleys were dynastic Staffordshire potters: they inter-married and became an integral part of the close-knit manufacturing community that banded together to advance their cause. They worked together to improve the canal and road transport system, to fill each others' large orders, and to make price-fixing agreements. An earlier pioneer, John Baddeley, made porcelain at Shelton in the 1750s, long before manufacture became firmly established in Staffordshire.

Materials & Making
After the death of Josiah Wedgwood in 1795, some of the leading Staffordshire potteries continued to make his highly refined 'Queen's Ware'. However, at exactly this moment, firms such as Spode and Minton perfected and successfully marketed the new bone china. This inevitably forced the more fragile earthenware, with only the advantage of cheaper materials and lower cost, to imitate and compete directly with porcelain.

This teapot is elegant, thinly made, almost white, and superbly decorated with a trompe l'oeil bamboo border and gilding. It represents the ultimate development of Wedgwood's old creamware body.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Teapot
  • Cover
  • Stand
Materials and techniques
Cream-coloured earthenware, painted in enamel and gilt
Brief description
Teapot and stand, lead-glazed earthenware, painted in enamel colours and gilt, made at the factory of John and Edward Baddeley, Shelton, Staffordshire, about 1805
Dimensions
  • Width: 27.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
Impressed with the marks 'IEB' under the pot and 'IEB' with an asterisk and mark of three red circles under the stand
Gallery label
  • British Galleries: A laurel wreath was an important motif of the Regency Classical style. Its small repeating leaves could be simplified as much as the designer wished, while its neat formality and its association with laurel wreaths for classical heroes gave a classical dignity even to everyday items such as a teapot.(27/03/2003)
  • Teapot and stand Made at the factory of John and Edward Baddeley, Shelton, Staffordshire, about 1805 Mark: 'IEB', impressed Lead-glazed earthenware, painted in enamel colours and gilt C.46 to B-1970(23/05/2008)
Object history
Made at the factory of John and Edward Baddeley, Shelton, Staffordshire
Summary
Object Type
Ceramic teapots of the early 19th century tended to follow the design of Sheffield plate or silver. They even imitated the rivets where the wooden handle would have joined the body. This example, with its sweeping prow and boat-like body, is entirely typical of its era. It was made shortly after Nelson's victory at Trafalgar and may reflect the great interest in all things nautical at that time.

People
The Baddeleys were dynastic Staffordshire potters: they inter-married and became an integral part of the close-knit manufacturing community that banded together to advance their cause. They worked together to improve the canal and road transport system, to fill each others' large orders, and to make price-fixing agreements. An earlier pioneer, John Baddeley, made porcelain at Shelton in the 1750s, long before manufacture became firmly established in Staffordshire.

Materials & Making
After the death of Josiah Wedgwood in 1795, some of the leading Staffordshire potteries continued to make his highly refined 'Queen's Ware'. However, at exactly this moment, firms such as Spode and Minton perfected and successfully marketed the new bone china. This inevitably forced the more fragile earthenware, with only the advantage of cheaper materials and lower cost, to imitate and compete directly with porcelain.

This teapot is elegant, thinly made, almost white, and superbly decorated with a trompe l'oeil bamboo border and gilding. It represents the ultimate development of Wedgwood's old creamware body.
Collection
Accession number
C.46 to B-1970

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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