Teapot thumbnail 1
Teapot thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 52b

Teapot

ca. 1750 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
Small cheap earthenware teapots were made by many Staffordshire potteries in the mid-18th century. They were often globular, with an applied crabstock (branch-shaped) handle and spout, and decorated in some simple technique to make them more attractive.

Materials & Making
Until the 1760s, when cream-coloured earthenware was perfected by Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795), the plain lead-glazed earthenwares produced by Staffordshire potters required some form of decoration to enliven the rather drab material. For teapots, every possible permutation was attempted: tortoiseshell decoration, white body with dark applied decoration, black body with applied and gilded decoration, black body with white decoration, and (as here) orange body with white decoration roughly painted with oxide colours. Matching cream jugs, sugar bowls and cups and saucers were also produced.

Retailers & Trading
Such teapots were commonly available in the so-called 'Staffordshire Warehouses' in most major towns in Britain, to supply a fast-growing number of tea drinkers with social pretensions but little money. The cost of a Staffordshire teapot in the mid-18th century was generally about one shilling.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Teapot
  • Cover
Materials and techniques
Lead-glazed earthenware with sprigged decoration
Brief description
Teapot with cover, lead-glazed earthenware with sprigged decoration, made in Staffordshire, England, about 1750
Physical description
Teapot and cover of earthenware, globular with crabstock handle and spout in white clay. Decorated with formal sprays of flowers and foliage in applied white clay touched with dull green and manganese brown.
Dimensions
  • Height: 12cm
  • From handle to spout width: 21cm
  • Depth: 13cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 17/11/2000 by RK
Gallery label
  • British Galleries: The designer of this teapot followed a Chinese tradition in adapting natural motifs for its decoration. The branch form of the spout and handle, inspired by the branches of the crab apple tree with its rough bark, is known as 'crabstock'.(27/03/2003)
  • Teapot Made in Staffordshire, about 1750 Lead-glazed earthenware, with sprigged decoration C.96-1938 Wallace Elliot bequest(23/05/2008)
Credit line
Bequeathed by Mr Wallace Elliot
Object history
London, Sothyby's, 13/11/1930. From the John Henry Taylor Collection.
Subject depicted
Summary
Object Type
Small cheap earthenware teapots were made by many Staffordshire potteries in the mid-18th century. They were often globular, with an applied crabstock (branch-shaped) handle and spout, and decorated in some simple technique to make them more attractive.

Materials & Making
Until the 1760s, when cream-coloured earthenware was perfected by Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795), the plain lead-glazed earthenwares produced by Staffordshire potters required some form of decoration to enliven the rather drab material. For teapots, every possible permutation was attempted: tortoiseshell decoration, white body with dark applied decoration, black body with applied and gilded decoration, black body with white decoration, and (as here) orange body with white decoration roughly painted with oxide colours. Matching cream jugs, sugar bowls and cups and saucers were also produced.

Retailers & Trading
Such teapots were commonly available in the so-called 'Staffordshire Warehouses' in most major towns in Britain, to supply a fast-growing number of tea drinkers with social pretensions but little money. The cost of a Staffordshire teapot in the mid-18th century was generally about one shilling.
Collection
Accession number
C.96&A-1938

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest