Teapot thumbnail 1
Teapot thumbnail 2
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Teapot

1745-1749 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
One of several small novelty teapots produced by the Chelsea porcelain factory in its early years, this rare squatting 'chinaman' clutching a parrot may have been little more than an experimental model. A handful of examples survive.

Design & Designing
The proprietors of the new Chlesea factory, desperate for models, no doubt looked at the new, cheap, slip-cast teapots then being mass-produced in Staffordshire and attempted to make a fashionable version with more style. It is thought that the inspiration for this piece was the range of Grotesque (fancifully decorated) porcelain teapots made in France at Saint-Cloud, with which the Chelsea factory manager, Nicholas Sprimont (born about 1716; died 1771), would have been familiar. But whereas the Saint-Cloud porcelains are smooth, glassy and very white, the early Chelsea porcelain paste is much less refined, while the finer details of modelling are obscured by a thick opaque-white glaze containing tin oxide. These early white products were soon succeeded by enamelled wares of great refinement.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Teapot
  • Cover
Materials and techniques
White glazed soft-paste porcelain
Brief description
Teapot with cover in the form of a 'chinaman' clutching a parrot, white-glazed soft-paste porcelain, made by Chelsea Porcelain factory, London, 1745-1749
Physical description
Teapot with cover, in the form of a 'chinaman' holding a parrot, soft-paste porcelain with white glaze. He is shown squatting, the parrot held by wing and tail in front of him, his hat forming the lid; twig handle with applied leaves and berries.
Dimensions
  • Height: 17.1cm
  • Approx., including spout width: 17cm
Dimensions checked: Registered Description; 01/01/1998 by KN
Marks and inscriptions
A triangle (Incised)
Gallery label
(27/03/2003)
British Galleries:
Teapots are thought to have been developed from the shapes of Chinese wine pots, used to serve hot wine. This one has been modelled in the manner of Chinese porcelain figures and the actual shape of the teapot is almost entirely disguised.
Credit line
Bequeathed by Mr Wallace Elliot
Object history
London, Amor, 1920.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Object Type
One of several small novelty teapots produced by the Chelsea porcelain factory in its early years, this rare squatting 'chinaman' clutching a parrot may have been little more than an experimental model. A handful of examples survive.

Design & Designing
The proprietors of the new Chlesea factory, desperate for models, no doubt looked at the new, cheap, slip-cast teapots then being mass-produced in Staffordshire and attempted to make a fashionable version with more style. It is thought that the inspiration for this piece was the range of Grotesque (fancifully decorated) porcelain teapots made in France at Saint-Cloud, with which the Chelsea factory manager, Nicholas Sprimont (born about 1716; died 1771), would have been familiar. But whereas the Saint-Cloud porcelains are smooth, glassy and very white, the early Chelsea porcelain paste is much less refined, while the finer details of modelling are obscured by a thick opaque-white glaze containing tin oxide. These early white products were soon succeeded by enamelled wares of great refinement.
Collection
Accession number
C.46&A-1938

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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