Tea Canister
ca. 1790-1800 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This elegant factory-made tea caddy demonstrates the skilled processes used to decorate ceramics in English factories around 1800.
The granite-like decoration on the lid and body of the tea caddy is known as 'terra tersia'. It was created in one of two ways. Either the vessel was coated in slip and rolled in multi-coloured clay crumbs until they were thoroughly embedded or slices of multi-coloured clay were applied to the surface. In this case, the second method was used.
The black chequer band around the shoulder used a different technique. This pattern was created by rolling a roulette stamp across the surface of the vessel while it rotated on a lathe. The resulting impressions were filled with black slip (liquid clay) and the excess removed to give the distinctive chequerboard pattern.
The granite-like decoration on the lid and body of the tea caddy is known as 'terra tersia'. It was created in one of two ways. Either the vessel was coated in slip and rolled in multi-coloured clay crumbs until they were thoroughly embedded or slices of multi-coloured clay were applied to the surface. In this case, the second method was used.
The black chequer band around the shoulder used a different technique. This pattern was created by rolling a roulette stamp across the surface of the vessel while it rotated on a lathe. The resulting impressions were filled with black slip (liquid clay) and the excess removed to give the distinctive chequerboard pattern.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Lead-glazed earthenware with 'terra tersia' surface decoration |
| Brief description | Tea canister and cover of cream coloured lead-glazed earthenware decorated with marbling in clay, Staffordshire, ca. 1790-1800. |
| Physical description | Tea canister and cover of cream coloured lead-glazed earthenware decorated with marbling in clay. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Given by Mr J.E. Nightingale to the Jermyn Street Collection. Transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street |
| Object history | Given by J. E. Nightingale, Esq., F.S.A., in 1875. Transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This elegant factory-made tea caddy demonstrates the skilled processes used to decorate ceramics in English factories around 1800. The granite-like decoration on the lid and body of the tea caddy is known as 'terra tersia'. It was created in one of two ways. Either the vessel was coated in slip and rolled in multi-coloured clay crumbs until they were thoroughly embedded or slices of multi-coloured clay were applied to the surface. In this case, the second method was used. The black chequer band around the shoulder used a different technique. This pattern was created by rolling a roulette stamp across the surface of the vessel while it rotated on a lathe. The resulting impressions were filled with black slip (liquid clay) and the excess removed to give the distinctive chequerboard pattern. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 3571&A-1901 |
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| Record created | March 31, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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