Teapot

ca. 1790 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This teapot reflects the fashion for neo-classical subject matter and shapes in the period 1780-1800. The excavations of important archaeological sites at Pompeii and Herculaneum in Italy at the time fuelled this interest. The figure decoration painted against a dark red background on this teapot is particularly reminiscent of wall-paintings being uncovered in private villas at these sites. An appreciation of ancient Roman and Greek civilisations was considered essential for wealthy educated young men, particularly those from England and Germany.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Teapot
  • Cover
Materials and techniques
Hard-paste porcelain, press-moulded, painted and gilded
Brief description
Teapot and cover in hard-paste porcelain, decorated in neo-classical style, made by the Fürstenberg porcelain factory, Germany, ca. 1790.
Physical description
Teapot and cover in hard-paste porcelain, of oval neo-classical shape, painted in enamels, the rims gilded.
Style
Object history
Purchased from the Dr. H. W. Diamond Collection, 1887.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This teapot reflects the fashion for neo-classical subject matter and shapes in the period 1780-1800. The excavations of important archaeological sites at Pompeii and Herculaneum in Italy at the time fuelled this interest. The figure decoration painted against a dark red background on this teapot is particularly reminiscent of wall-paintings being uncovered in private villas at these sites. An appreciation of ancient Roman and Greek civilisations was considered essential for wealthy educated young men, particularly those from England and Germany.
Bibliographic reference
Lorenz, Angelika (ed). Weißes Gold aus Fürstenberg, with contributions by Hermann Jedding, Hildegard Westhoff-Krummacher, Johanna Lessman, etc., p.381, no. 382. Braunschweig (Brunswick), 1988. ISBN 388789085X. Catalogue of exhibition at Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe Westfälisches Landesmuseum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte, Münster and Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum, Brunswick, 1988.
Collection
Accession number
220&A-1887

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Record createdApril 30, 2009
Record URL
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