Teapot and lid, silver, London hallmarks for 1869-70, mark of Charles Frederick Hancock.

Silver teapot and lid, Egyptian key pattern, raised, chased, cast and applied spout and handle, ivory strips on handles.

Flattened spherical shape, the body in three parts, the upper and lower embossed with ornament, on the lower a star shaped design surrounding the foot ring, comprising of two squares laid at an angle to each other against a textured background, probably etched and with a toothed edge. A projecting frieze around the middle has an etched, textured background; certain areas are oxidised. The upper stage embossed with scarabs, crocodiles, birds, vulture wigs etc on an etched, textured background. The angular handle, fitted with ivory insulators, has an outer frieze of ornament on a textured ground. The short spout has lotus and other decoration. The detached lid, gadrooned, rising to a platform on which stands a cast crocodile.

Although conventionally western in form, the teapot's cast crocodile finial, frieze with scarabs and sphinxes and band of key pattern show the continuing fascination with ancient Egypt. Similar designs were made in pottery by Wedgwood around 1810, when Egyptian forms were popular following archaeological discoveries made during Napoleon's Egyptian campaign.

Although conventionally western in form, the teapot's cast crocodile finial, frieze with scarabs and sphinxes and band of key pattern show the continuing fascination with ancient Egypt. Similar designs were made in pottery by Wedgwood around 1810, when Egyptian forms were popular following archaeological discoveries made during Napoleon's Egyptian campaign.

M.22:1, 2-1978