Teapot and Cover
ca. 1787-1790 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This teapot was made soon after import duties were drastically reduced in 1784, after which the average retail price of tea fell by almost three shillings a pound. In 1785 Bohea, the most popular type of black (fermented) tea, cost about two shillings a pound, and green (unfermented) tea cost between three and five shillings. Within ten years of this legislation, figures for imports of tea had quadrupled.
Materials & Making
The pot is made from 'true' or hard-paste porcelain, made by combining china clay and china stone (or 'petuntse'). Although the secret of its manufacture had long been known on the Continent, no British factory succeeded in making it until 1768. In that year a patent for hard-paste production was granted to William Cookworthy (1705-1780) at Plymouth, who had identified Cornish deposits of the raw materials in the 1740s. Cookworthy experienced great difficulties in making and firing the wares, and in 1782 his successors sold the patent to a consortium of Staffordshire potters, who established the New Hall works. New Hall adapted Staffordshire potting techniques to the new material, and were commercially successful, making tea- and tablewares.
This teapot was made soon after import duties were drastically reduced in 1784, after which the average retail price of tea fell by almost three shillings a pound. In 1785 Bohea, the most popular type of black (fermented) tea, cost about two shillings a pound, and green (unfermented) tea cost between three and five shillings. Within ten years of this legislation, figures for imports of tea had quadrupled.
Materials & Making
The pot is made from 'true' or hard-paste porcelain, made by combining china clay and china stone (or 'petuntse'). Although the secret of its manufacture had long been known on the Continent, no British factory succeeded in making it until 1768. In that year a patent for hard-paste production was granted to William Cookworthy (1705-1780) at Plymouth, who had identified Cornish deposits of the raw materials in the 1740s. Cookworthy experienced great difficulties in making and firing the wares, and in 1782 his successors sold the patent to a consortium of Staffordshire potters, who established the New Hall works. New Hall adapted Staffordshire potting techniques to the new material, and were commercially successful, making tea- and tablewares.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Hard-paste porcelain, slip-cast and painted in underglaze blue and gilded |
| Brief description | Teapot and cover of hard-paste porcelain, slip-cast and painted in underglaze blue and gilded, New Hall porcelain factory, Staffordshire, ca. 1787-1790. |
| Physical description | Teapot and cover of hard-paste porcelain, slip-cast and painted in underglaze blue and gilded. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | 'Ralph Clowes [or Clewes] New Hall fecit' (Incised) |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
Makers of porcelain developed a wide range of Neo-classical ornament for their wares. In this example an elegant running scroll has garlands suspended from it. The wavy shape of the body is derived from teapots made in metal.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Presented by Lt. Col. K. Dingwall, DSO with Art Fund support |
| Summary | Object Type This teapot was made soon after import duties were drastically reduced in 1784, after which the average retail price of tea fell by almost three shillings a pound. In 1785 Bohea, the most popular type of black (fermented) tea, cost about two shillings a pound, and green (unfermented) tea cost between three and five shillings. Within ten years of this legislation, figures for imports of tea had quadrupled. Materials & Making The pot is made from 'true' or hard-paste porcelain, made by combining china clay and china stone (or 'petuntse'). Although the secret of its manufacture had long been known on the Continent, no British factory succeeded in making it until 1768. In that year a patent for hard-paste production was granted to William Cookworthy (1705-1780) at Plymouth, who had identified Cornish deposits of the raw materials in the 1740s. Cookworthy experienced great difficulties in making and firing the wares, and in 1782 his successors sold the patent to a consortium of Staffordshire potters, who established the New Hall works. New Hall adapted Staffordshire potting techniques to the new material, and were commercially successful, making tea- and tablewares. |
| Bibliographic reference | Young, Hilary. English Porcelain, 1745-95. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1999. 229p., ill. ISBN 1851772820. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.34&A-1918 |
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
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | December 3, 2002 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
